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Naos New Edition2
Naos New Edition2
NEW EDITION
ORDER OF NINE ANGLES
Naos- A Practical Guide to Becoming an Adept
New Edition, 126yf
Order of Nine Angles
CONTENTS
Aulwynd Caeleth,
Yorkshire
ONA
126 yf
Preface to the New Edition
By Anton Long
There are two things concerning The Order of Nine Angles which may be said
to express our raison ‘d’etre and which two things some people seem to have
overlooked.
The first is that our primary aim is to breed, to develop, a new type of human
being with such new beings establishing new ways of living for themselves. The
second is that we are now and always have been an esoteric association.
The first means that we possess an Aeonic perspective, beyond the life of the
individual. That we understand the achievement of our aims and goals in terms
of long durations of causal Time, of centuries and more. That we know that
changing an ordinary human into one of our kind is a slow, difficult, testing,
process involving as it does such things as exeatic experience, practical
challenges, and pathei-mathos, as well as a comingtolive both the sinister and
the numinous. Thus our kind develop an awareness and a knowing of
themselves as a nexion balanced between causal and acausal and of possessing
within them – latent, then discovered, then developed and then lived – the
sinisterlynuminous. For such a knowing and then a living of the sinisterly
numinous is an essential part of the development, the breeding, the emergence,
of our new kind.
The second means not only that we have certain Dark Arts, certain skills,
certain Occult methods and techniques, as well as an esoteric aural tradition, but
also that one of our tasks is to recruit some suitable individuals and for such
initiates to begin to follow the Adeptus way, since we know, from experience,
that such a practical and Occult way is most efficacious in producing the new
breed of human.
Thus what has tended to be overlooked – especially by those concentrating on
using outer causal forms and upon immediate adversarial action – is the need to
be, become, to live, to learn from, the sinisterlynuminous, and the importance
we attach to the Adeptus way.
The Adeptus way – the way of our adepts – is manifest both in our newer Seven
Fold Way and in our more traditional Way of the Rounwytha.
The Adeptus way is a distinct way of life, involving a lifetime commitment, so
that our Adepts often feel and know how different they are from most other
humans. Different in terms of personal character; in terms of faculties; in terms
of knowing; in terms of experience; in terms of feelings, aims, and goals. And
also in terms of how – even now in this Aeon where most human
communication is still by words, written and spoken – they are able to
communicate with their own kind and often with other humans sans words.
This communication of ours is not only the use of ONAspeak and of an
esoteric language or two – such as The Star Game – but also the result of using
and developing Occult faculties and skills such as esotericempathy and thus
becoming empaths, and possessing talents such as foreseeing. Which skills and
talents and faculties are muliebral and which developing and possession and use
of such muliebral qualities are one presencing of the numinous within a human
man, with such a presencing necessary for that sinisternuminous balance which
it is one of the aims of an Adept to cultivate and to live.
It is these qualities – and the type of character, the type of person they breed –
that manifest the Adept and marks us as markedly different from the majority
who apply to themselves, or to their beliefs, terms such sinister, satanist, and
Left Hand Path, even though we ourselves are all those things and in many
ways by our living define or redefine such terms.
For our Way is primarily esoteric and therefore is concerned with all of the
following: (1) wyrd – the numinously archetypal; (2) with a type of learning
that involves the arts of human culture, the Occult arts, and the patheimathos of
Occult and exoteric experiences; (3) with developing certain faculties, such as
esotericempathy; (4) with the sinisterlynuminous.
Thus, our Adepts are esoteric even when they are shapeshifting or living in the
world of ordinary humans – such as when garnishing exeatic experiences or
undertaking an Insight Role or living as an outlaw, a heretic, or are part of or
leading a gang. Esoteric as not only in being secretive, but also as in learning,
developing, esoteric skills and as in having within them a certain perspective, a
certain knowledge, that places their own life and deeds into a wyrdful, an
Aeonic, and thus into a Cosmic, perspective.
The Sinister-Numinous
Therefore one exoteric, and old, archetype which still usefully expresses
something of the sinisterlynuminous for those of the male human gender is the
chivalrous warrior of stories such as Le Morte d’Arthur but where the supra
personal ‘numinous’ element is not the religion of the Nazarene but rather our
code of kindredhonour or something similar.
Or, if one desires a more modern, and somewhat more accurate (but still
incomplete, imperfect) archetype, there are the warriors of the WaffenSS, and
what they were, of course, rather than what propaganda and lies about them
have made them appear to be. But of course it is ‘heresy’ to state or to claim
such things today, which is exactly one of our adversarial, sinisterlynuminous,
points
Anton Long
Order of Nine Angles
0
A THEORY OF MAGICK
Fundamental to magick is a belief that the phenomenal world of the five senses
is incomplete. Magickians believe that we live in a world quite different from
the one our five senses show to us – they believe that every living thing
possesses, because it is living, certain energies which we as individuals can
sense and ‘see’ if we become receptive to them. This receptiveness is one of the
aims of magickal or Occult Initiation – and may be said to involve the
individual in becoming aware of the essence of things that is hidden by their
outward appearance (and this applies to other individuals, as well as ‘things’).
According to the Septenary tradition, these “magickal energies” possessed by
things and ‘life’ derive from what it is convenient to describe the acausal – that
is, every living entity is a point or region where acausal energies manifest in our
causal, phenomenal, universe, the amount and type of this energy being
dependant on the type of entity. These acausal energies (which science because
it at present deals only with causal entities and energies, cannot describe) may
be said to derive from a parallel acausal universe which intersects our causal
universe at certain places.
We as individuals, because we possess the faculty of consciousness, re ‘gates’
to this acausal universe. We possess the (mostly latent) ability to ‘open the gate’
to the acausal which exists within our own psyche to draw from the acausal
certain energies, and these energies can and do alter in some way both our own
consciousness or other entities/energies which exist in the causal.
This “drawing of energies”, and their use, is magick. External magick is the use
of such energies, directed by individual desire, to bring about changes in the
causal; Internal Magick is the use of these energies to bring psychic, internal
change.
To draw upon such energies it is usually necessary for the individual to use
some form of framework or symbolism, and techniques of external magick use
such symbolism to bring both apprehension of the energies and their control.
Various systems of symbolism exist –most denoting types of energy by gods,
goddesses, spirits or demons. In reality, the actual symbols are of only
secondary importance, and a Magickian who is following the path to Adeptship
will soon discard such symbols/names/descriptions (and thus External Magick
itself) in favour of apprehending such energies as those energies are in
themselves. In the Septenary tradition this is done first via the ‘Tree of Wyrd’
(the seven spheres and the pathways connecting them – see Appendix I) and
then through the ‘Star Game’. The Tree of Wyrd may beseen as a map of
consciousness: both individual (of the psyche) and of those regions other than
the individual where the acausal and causal meet. The symbolism of the spheres
and the pathways (the Tarot cards, planets, incenses, ‘godforms’ and so on) are
the first or Initiated stage of apprehension of the Star Game.
External magick is divided into two forms or types: hermetic, and ceremonial.
Hermetic magick is basically that involving only one or two individuals
whereas ceremonial magick involves more and may be said to be ‘formal’
magick involving specific rituals or rites (usually written down and followed
exactly) and an organized Temple/coven or group. (Part Two of the present
work deals only with hermetic magick of the Septenary tradition the
ceremonial side being covered in such works as The Black Book).
Internal magick is always individual.
I
THE SEVENFOLD WAY
Physis is divided into seven stages and these seven stages may be regarded as
representing the varying degrees of insight attained. In terms of traditional
magick, the stages represent Initiation, Second Degree Initiation, External
Adept, Internal Adept, Master/Mistress (or High Priest/Priestess), Magus and
Immortal.
Each stage is associated with a sphere of the septenary Tree of Wyrd and has
many attributions some occult, some ‘psychological’, and some symbolic. For
example, the first stage is the sphere of the Moon, and is associated with quartz,
the alchemical process ‘calcination’, the word NOX and the three Tarot cards,
18 The Moon, 15 Lucifer, and 13 Death. Each sphere is tripartite in nature,
representing the unconscious aspect, the ego aspect, and the self aspect. These
aspects represent the gradual evolution of the ‘energy’ of the sphere since each
sphere may be regarded as archetypal in nature the three Tarot cards showing
the aspects of the archetype. Appendix I gives the details of the seven spheres
their attributions and so on.
Physis is essentially a means which enables an understanding of the forces
associated with each sphere; an experience of those forces as they are in
themselves, enabling what Jungian psychology understands as the ‘withdrawing
of projections’. This withdrawing creates the ‘self’ from the ‘ego’ – it is an
expansion of individual consciousness, and represents what is often known as
enlightenment.
The means of Physis are the Grade Rituals associated with each sphere, and the
Star Game. The Grade Rituals are practical tasks, essentially twofold in nature.
The first part consists of a series of studies, meditations and the achievement of
certain personal goals specified according to the sphere associated with the
particular Grade Rituals, while the second part is the performance by the
individual of a very specific ‘ritual’. This ritual is simple in both form and
content. Ritual here means a method of undertaking something in which the
details are faithfully repeated. This faithful repetition is important, because by
following the procedure exactly the required changes in consciousness are
produced.
In the early stages the sevenfold Way is easy, but it gradually becomes more
difficult, demanding a great deal of commitment. Genuine Adeptship and
enlightenment must be worked for – they are attained, by the individual, and
never given as gifts.
The first two stages may be said to represent a confrontation with the shadow
aspect of the psyche of the individual – and an integration of this aspect
followed by transcendence, giving thus a new synthesis. The third stage may be
said to be a confrontation with what Jung has called the ‘anima/animus’: the
power and fascination of love, eros. The fourth stage represents the emergence
of the ‘self’ from a fusion of ‘ego’ and ‘unconscious’. The fifth stage represents
the development, within the individual, of wisdom – an understanding beyond
the self.
Each stage has an alchemical process associated with it, representing the means
and the insight attained: for example, the process for the second sphere,
Mercury, is Separation and the form this takes is ‘indulgence’. The Grade
Ritual associated with this stage is in a sense a symbolic representation,
psychological terms, of the alchemical process.
Those who wish to follow the sevenfold Way should undertake the Grade
Rituals in order, beginning with that of the first sphere – Initiation.
Each stage of the sevenfold Way provides you with both personal (i.e.
‘emotional’) and magickal experiences, and these experiences are consolidated
during the next stage. In short, the stages provoke, by their nature, selfinsight,
and this insight is a gradual process of learning.
II
The Sevenfold Way:
Training and Grades
This process can result, sometimes by accident over extended periods of time
(for example, three decades or more) but it is most usually undertaken as a
result of a conscious decision by an individual to seek esoteric and/or magickal
groups/Orders/Adepts. In this later case – and provided the guidance received is
good – the goal can be achieved in a much shorter time.
The first part of the process is in many ways the easiest: that of seeking some
form of Initiation (qv. the Order MS A Novice’s Guide to Initiation.). Before
and after Initiation the novice is required to undertake various tasks by the
Master or Mistress who has agreed to guide the individual along the SevenFold
Way. The preInitiation tasks are the performance by the individual of a simple
hermetic ritual (usually on the night of the full moon), the construction of the
simplified version of intent and commitment of the candidate. The important
thing about these tests of intent is that the candidate is unaware of them – for
example, the candidate is asked to be present at a certain time and place and
instead of meeting there the expected Master or Mistress meets a person of odd
appearance who propounds various views which the individual in question may
find not only unusual but distasteful. Such tests and encounters are not games
but merely devices which enable the preparation to Initiation. It is to be
understood that it is not the order which tests the candidate – but the candidates
themselves. Initiation is the beginning of the breakdown of the illusion of roles,
and to be successful this breaking must be done by the individual, within.
Once this breaking down begins, then Initiation is already underway, and no
‘Rite of Initiation’ however complex or wellmeaning is a substitute for this
change in the individual. Such a rite, as a ceremonial ritual, is only the
representation of this process in a dramatic form and in many cases is not
necessary if some other form of Initiation is more suited to the candidate.
An example of this third type is when a candidate, expecting perhaps (as a result
of their imagination) a ceremonial ritual of Initiation, is led to an isolated spot
where magickal energies are present either naturally (as for example in most
stone circles0 or have been created beforehand by an Adept in readiness for the
candidate. The candidate is then left alone. What the candidate then experiences
(sometimes for many hours) is an Initiation – although that is seldom
understood by the candidate at the time because outwards form is lacking. In
many respects, this third type is the most valuable of all the forms of Initiation
since it does not rely on the illusion of ceremonial, or the dogma normally
associated with such rural forms. Initiation is complete when the candidate
realizes that a process of inner change has begun.
The next stage of the SevenFold Way, following Initiation, is when the novice
begins to undertake in a systematic way workings with the various magickal
forces through such forms as Path Workings, hermetical and ceremonial rituals.
Such workings in themselves take several months and during this time the
novice will be given several tasks – some practical, some magickal – to
perform. These tasks may themselves take several months to complete. The
most usual magickal task involved the novice assuming the ‘role’ of a dark
sorcerer/sorceress for example, dressing in black and cultivating a Satanic
appearance – and in this guise attending various Occult functions and generally
trying to invoke argument and dissent. The novice in this is advised to cultivate
an attitude of arrogance and pride and must be prepared to defend forcefully
their Satanic views. Following this, the novice is expected to infiltrate another
magickal group/Order with the intent of attending a ritual and during that ritual
either redirecting the magickal power (if any) or invoking by their own effort
during the ritual a powerful force of their own choosing to disrupt or otherwise
alter the original ritual. In some cases, the novice may organize their own group
(recruiting people for it) for just this purpose.
This magickal task develops not only the use of magickal forces in an
interesting way but also provides the novice to develop various skills pertaining
to the manipulation of other individuals chiefly through the deliberate
development of a ‘charismatic’ personality or role. It’s the fundamental task of
the novice to learn from these experiences – that is, not to allow the role to
become dominant.
This is achieved by the novice remembering that they are involved in a Seven
Fold quest and accepting the advice given by the Master or Mistress who
assigned the task. Both of these things some novices find difficult to do. The
behaviour of the novice during this task is governed by specific guidelines –
failure to observe the guidelines by an individual means the end of their
noviciate as far as the Order is concerned.
The practical tasks associated with this stage usually involve the novice
developing certain physical abilities suited to their character. Such physical
goals (for example, cycling 100 miles in under 5 hours or running 26 miles in 4
hours 30 minutes – fitter individuals will be given a more demanding goal) are a
necessary balance to the magickal tasks as well as enabling those tasks to be
achieved in a more invigorating manner.
This stage generally takes from six months to two years and is concluded when
the novice finds changes of perspective arising as a consequence of the self
understanding brought through following the goals and tasks. This change
should arise naturally and it is made conscious to the novice toward the end of
the stage through the grade ritual of External Adept. This ritual is a prelude to
the goals and tasks of the next stage and signifies the beginning of Adeptship.
The Grade Ritual involves the individual constructing a septenary Star Game
and the performance by the individual of a certain ritual on a night of the new
moon. This ritual involves the invoking of a certain force, female in aspect.
The External Adept may choose to continue with the group or temple begun in
the previous stage (or create one if this was not done before) for the purpose of
conducting ceremonial and hermetic rituals of the type associated with, for
example, the ‘Book of Wyrd’ as well as for the performance of the cthonic Nine
Angles rite if desired. Alternatively, the individual may opt to concentrate on
magickal working with the Star Game – and for this (as the task above) a
companion is required. It is a task of the External Adept to find such a
companion, as well as teach them all they themselves have learned during the
previous stages – guiding them as they themselves have been guided. This in
itself takes from one to two years, and because of this most External adepts
prefer, during this time, to organize a magickal group/Temple since it provides a
structure and a focus.
During this stage the External Adept will experience many things, particularly
of a magickal kind if rituals are undertaken by a group, and contact with the
Master or Mistress will be limited and occur for the most part if the External
Adept wishes. It is important during the long period associated with this
particular stage, that the individual does not become prey top the illusion of
being a Master or Mistress.
Most will of course succumb at some time to this as a consequence of the varied
magickal experiences and contacts with those less experienced in magick, many
individuals sever their links with the Order as a consequence of this illusion.
In some ways this stage is the most difficult, involving as it does confrontation
with various roles and what had been called the ‘anima/animus’, this latter
occurring naturally through the training of a companion. Provided the individual
maintains during the stage their resolve to follow to its end the SevenFold Way
(and here the advice of the Master/Mistress is often crucial at some point during
this stage) then, with the completion of the Ritual of the fifth stage, the new
Master or Mistress assumes a teaching role via an Order or an individual basis,
and usually those who attain this stage take over at some time their Order,
guiding individuals along the SevenFold Way. They may also create their own
Order or group should they wish – or reactivate the Temple by its nature,
means the individual must disband such a Temple or leave it in care of one less
experienced.
After some years teaching, the Master or Mistress may withdraw to seek the
next stage – provided they have trained at least one person to continue the
tradition of the SevenFold Way.
Thus it will be seen that the SevenFold Way is not easy. It is a way of life,
which any individual may follow. Those who only follow its early stages gain
something of benefit those who go further may achieve the goal that awaits us
all: the stage of human evolution.
In the past, in any one decade, the Order had many hundreds of candidates
seeking Initiation. About four or five a year, sometimes less, may become
Initiates through their own choice. Of these, perhaps two will complete the
noviciate and only two or three from twenty a decade become Internal Adepts,
the others drifting away for various reasons. Every twenty years, a new Master
or Mistress may take office. There may be one or two Magi a century. So it has
been – and so will it probably unfortunately remain until the New Aeons begins
to emerge on the practical level three to four centuries in the future.
The SevenFold Way possesses the potential to create (given good guidance) in
ten years what it has taken seven civilizations, five Aeons or nearly ten
thousand years to achieve. Every individual is free to choose between this path
to the divine and a continuation of the sleep that keeps the potentiality of life at
bay. All magick is a glimpse of this path – it is up to the individual to walk
along it.
III
First Degree Initiation
Initiation here simply means a willingness to follow the Seven Fold Way. It is
the opening of the gate that leads to the path, the first part of which is
downward or ‘shadowed’.
Thus, the first stage may be said to be an acceptance of certain hidden forces
(within ourselves). To undertake the Grade Ritual first find a suitable outdoor
locality if possible within the vicinity of a stream/river or lake.
The ritual should be undertaken on the night of the full moon. You will require
the following items:
Civit perfume/oil
Silver/White coloured candles
Square of parchment
Silver pen
Quilltype pen
The ritual is begun at sunset. Bathe in the stream/river/lake and afterwards rub
the oil onto your body. You may if you wish then change into a black robe.
Then, in a comfortable position (the position itself is not important only that it is
comfortable for you) visualise the following symbol or ‘sigil’:
Following this, light the candles (which are best placed in lanterns if outdoors),
prick your left thumb with the pin and, using the pen, inscribe the following
sigil on the parchment with the blood:
Shows this parchment to the West, then South, then East and North, saying at
each point: ‘With this sign I begin my quest!’ Then burn part of the parchment
in one of the candles and then cast the remains into the river/stream/lake. After
raise your arms and visualize the moon (or look at it if it is visible) imagining
energy flowing down from the moon to you – visualizing the energy as
filaments, silver in color, which spread from the moon to engulf you,
surrounding you with light.
After the visualization, extinguish the candles. The ritual is then complete.
IV
The Septenary System
From an initiated viewpoint, the seven spheres are seen to form a three
dimensional pattern where every sphere is linked to every other twice, although
in a physical representation (e.g. a model) the twofold nature of the connecting
paths are shown only for Moon/Saturn, Venus/Mars and Mercury/Jupiter.
This threedimensional structure is considered to lie enclosed within a double
tetrahedron: the sphere of the sun being in the centre of the base where the
tetrahedrons join. The uppermost tetrahedron signifies the acausal aspect, the
lower, the causal aspect, and the three angles of each side are symbolized by the
nine combinations of the three alchemical forms; that is, by the symbols of the
pieces of the Star Game. As in the Star Game, the acausal aspects are an exact
reflection of the acausal – the latter being shown in the diagram below.
Thus, it is possible to see and understand the relation between the spheres, the
pathways and the nine angles in their dual aspect.
beyond thesis ( ) and antithesis –the Tao beyond the Yang ( ) and the Yin (
).
For this transformation is the sevenfold way – the journey from Initiate via
Adept to Immortal. For , it is the evolution of our species – from the first
Aeon (often called the preHyperborian) to the present Aeon. The seven Aeons
– according to traditional Satanism – are listed below.
From a magickal point of view, the Septenary and its associated symbolism
both exoteric and esoteric enables (1) insight and understanding into both and
, and also shows how energies may be directed to change s (2) in terms
of and (3) . The Star Game may be used to bring about such changes
according to the desire of the magickian.
(1) is essentially internal magick; (2) is external magick and (3) is Aeonic
magick
Regarding Aeons, two important facts should be borne in mind. First, the last
five hundred years or so of an Aeon show a marked decline in the magickal
energy associated with it, and it is during this time that the energies of the next
Aeon gradually become evident (at first usually only to Adepts). These energies
may be increased (or decreased) by Aeonic magick worked by those who
understand the forces involved. Second, each Aeon is associated with what is
called a ‘higher civilization’ from which the Aeon usually takes its name.
Within the physical confines of this higher civilization is the (usually sacred)
place where the magickal energies of the Aeon are pronounced – and this
because such a place is usually a physical gate where the causal and the acausal
meet. For instance, the center associated with the Hyperborian Aeon was
Stonehenge; that of the Hellenic, Delphi. Aeons, according to the genuine
sinister tradition, represent real – as opposed to mythical – magickal energies.
Hence the absence, in the list above, of the fanciful prehistories normally
associated with socalled ‘esoteric’ histories. Aeons, quite simply, represent
significant upward and evolutionary trends in our consciousness. Thus, for
example (and according to tradition) the Hyperborian Aeon corresponds to the
invention of the wheel, the discovery of the basics of astronomy and the
beginnings of what we know as ‘internal magick’
V
The Dark Gods
According to tradition, the Dark Gods are actual entities which exist in the
acausal universe. According to our spatial, causal perception, these beings may
be regarded as ‘timeless and chaotic’.
Since our consciousness is by its nature partly acausal these entities can become
manifest for us if we possess the keys to reach the appropriate levels of
consciousness. What is termed the ‘Abyss’ separates our everyday
consciousness from the consciousness (and thus apprehension) of the Dark
Gods. The ordeal of the Abyss involves confronting these entities – and
accepting them for what they are, that is, unbound by our illusion of opposites
and the conflict of ‘good’ and ‘evil’.
While it is convenient to regard the Dark Gods as merely symbols that re
present the energies of the acausal – as a projection of our own consciousness
upon Chaos itself – it is equally possible to regard them as physically existing in
themselves. Which of these (or neither of them) is correct, the Adept discovers
during the ordeal of the Abyss.
Legend, however, recalls the Dark Gods as visiting our planet several times in
the past – by passing through one of the many ‘Star Gates’. Star Gates are
regions in spacetime where our causal universe and the universe of the acausal
are joined – they are physical gates, and passage from one universe to another is
possible through them.
According to legend, Star Gates exist near to stars Dabih, Naos and Algol: that
is, if you journeyed from Earth in the direction of one of these stars you would
pass through a Star Gate.
There are also stories of a Star Gate within our own solar system the Gate
through which the Dark Gods came to Earth. This Star Gate is believed to be
near the planet Saturn.
Sometimes, the Abyss invades our dreams, but mostly the Abyss is reached by
following the sevenfold way. It lies between the spheres of the Sun and Mars,
and divides the Adept from the Master/Mistress. It is the Gate to the gods within
us and the gods without.
VI
The Dark Pathways
The spheres of the Septenary may be said to be the Nexus between causal and
acausal (or ‘Being’ and ‘nonbeing’) and the paths linking the spheres may be
regarded from a magickal point of view as zones of energy. This energy is
according to tradition symbolized in an archetypal way since it is through such
symbolism that control of the energy is possible.
After this say: ‘Come ……… (here name the entity) to me! And bring me my
desire!’ Briefly visualize your desire, and verbalize it using a short phrase (such
as ‘N.N. shall die!). Then begin a slow circular dance in the opposite direction
of the one before, laughing while you dance and saying: ‘I am the power, I am
the glory, I am a god!’
Cease your dance, sit on the ground/floor and breathe deeply for several
minutes. Allow your mind to fill with images and feelings as it will, but do not
move. Gradually let yourself then become relaxed and when relaxed rise, bow
once to the North, say ‘It is completed’ and depart from the Temple or area of
the working. As soon as possible write an account of what you felt following
the second dance. For best results, seven days before every working reduce your
food and sleep, aiming to reach a minimum on the day chosen for the working.
During the period no meat should be eaten and every night before sleep
concentrate for about a quarter of one hour on the appropriate sigil, slowing
saying (not chanting or vibrating) the name of the entity. Burn incense
(combined from the planets as above). This method means only one working
per week can be undertaken – which is ideal. Try and link your feelings during
the working with the appropriate Tarot image.
When no type of desire for a particular path is indicated in Table I deduce the
appropriate desire for a working from the associated Tarot image: concentrate
on the image for some time and allow the associations to grow naturally in your
mind.
(It is also during this phase of initiation that one should begin seeking out a
suitable insight role. For further information, see Hostia).
The Tree of Wyrd and the pathways corresponding to the Dark Gods.
Table I
The Dark Gods
Every initiate should draw and paint (or at least commission such from a good
artist) their own Tarot pack, using the guidelines given later in this chapter.
To read the cards for an individual, the individual cards are seen and interpreted
in relation to the others around them. This is done because the cards are
symbols of how certain energies have, are and maybe influencing the person for
whom the reading is being done – and these energies are never static, or in
isolation.
The essence of initiated readings is empathy: an awareness of the energies
within, around and external to the individual, and the cards are used to ‘focus”
these energies in consciousness. To aid this, the setting of the reading should be
imbued with magickal anticipation. This is easily achieved – for example by
using one candle – having no other persons present than the individual foe
whom the reading is being done, laying the cards out on a black cloth kept for
this purpose, burning one particular incense whenever you do a reading (and
never using that incense for any other purpose). Ideally, the room/area where
the reading is undertaken should be quiet and calm.
Two types of card layout may be used. These follow you shuffling the cards in a
mindful, calm way after which the client cuts the pack three times, laying each
cut beside the other. Choose which cut you feel is appropriate and use the cards
in that pile, starting with the top card.
The first layout is the ‘Celtic’, the second the ‘Septenary’.
Celtic
In this, the second card is placed across the first.
1. Represents the client.
2. The predominant influence which is acting against them, ‘crossing’ etc.
3. Is what is in the distant past (which may be an unconscious influence over the
present).
4. The recent past (and also the subconscious energies).
5. The present.
6. The immediate future. 7, 8, and 9 the future at intervals, and 10 the outcome.
There are also other influences which must be considered. 4, 6, 9 and 10 are
how positive energies flow (via 2) – 3, 6, 8, and 7 the negative ones.
3210 are how the unconscious influences can be made conscious (i.e.
controlled or circumstances altered) in a positive way. 527 is how the present
will evolve to enable 10 to arise – or conversely, how to prevent 10 arising.
In undertaking a reading two important principles should be understood. First,
the interpretation of each card is not rigid – the meanings suggested by each
card should arise in your mind naturally, that is, they should be intuitive and
spontaneous. For this reason, ‘book’ interpretations and of particular cards must
be avoided. This intuitive approach enables the cards to be used correctly – as
mediums to awaken the psychic faculties.
The second principle, is to have all the cards upwards: there is no meaning in
‘reversed’ cards – because what is ‘reversed’ is covered by the ‘unconscious’
patterns/flow considered in each reading.
2) Septenary
Here the cards are related to the planetary/sphere aspects – e.g. 5 is the sphere
associated with Mars.
These relations (in terms of energies) should be consider as well as the
following:
1. Are unconscious factors, 2 and 3 the past (and the unconscious becoming
more conscious);
4. The present, 5 and 6 the immediate future and beyond, and 7 the outcome. In
addition, 1 – 2 – 5 are negative elements/energies;
1 – 3 – 6 positive. 1 – 4 – 7 what needs to be done to bring 7 (or, again, prevent
it from arising).
In both this and the Celtic pattern all combinations should be seen as how
energies flow and change, or become altered through the other influences
present. Intuition should enable the practical manifestation of these energies to
be understood – e.g. a particular influence might represent an actual person or
event in the client’s life.
THE SINISTER TAROT
The Major Arcana has twentyone cards, and there are eleven cards in each
suit– the four ‘Court’ cards (High Priest, High Priestess, Warrior and Maiden),
the ace and six others numbered two to seven.
There are four suits: Wands, Pentacles, Swords and Chalices, each having many
attributions, some of which are listed below.
These four are symbolized, in each suit, in the same general way (see table
below) – the variants depending on the suit. For instance, the card the High
Priest of Wands would depict the Priest holding a wand, while the card the High
Priest of Swords he would bear a sword. The predominant colour of the card
would depend on the planetary attribution.
Wands is Mercury, Pentacles is Moon, Swords is Sun, and Chalices is Venus.
This means that for Wands the colour is Yellow (the Unconscious aspect),
merging to Black (the Ego aspect), and Blue (the Self aspect).
For Pentacles the colours are Blue, Silver and Green; For Swords, Orange,
Gold and Red; For Chalices, Green, White and Silver.
Thus the High Priest for all suits is depicted as a bearded man, standing/walking
barefoot wearing a cloak. He carries a staff, a wolf is near or beside him and he
is set in or against a background of mountains. The impression given by the
cards of the High priest should be of wisdom, that of the High Priest fecundity
(and veiled sexuality – i.e. sexuality suggested rather than obvious); that of the
Warrior, strength and courage; and of the Maiden, overt youthful sexuality.
0- The Fool
Brightly clad young man stand on the edge of a cliff, looking upwards. He is
holding a flute as if ready to play and a dog is biting at his heel. Above his head
a beautiful butterfly hovers. A crescent moon is in the twilight sky.
I- The Magickian
A young man wearing a black cloak stands beside an altar from which incense
is rising. On the altar are a golden chalice and a tetrahedron.
Around him are flowers (some of which are trampled) and in the background,
stars – the constellations of Leo and Virgo. His left hand is held down, pointing
to Earth while his right is raised and holds a wooden wand, carved (in runes)
with the word ‘Desire’. Around his neck is an inverted pentagram.
V- The Master
A man dressed in black wearing a scarlet cloak fastened by a silver chain stands
beside a large tetrahedron. Inside the tetrahedron a young man and a young
woman, both naked, are kneeling and embracing. The background is dark,
except for a high arch way through which a dim light enters the chamber – the
tetrahedron being in the centre of the chamber. The man is bearded and smiling
slightly.
VII- Azoth
A strong man dressed in animal skins stands grimly beside a plinth on which is
a large, glowing sphere. In the centre of the sphere is a blackness where stars
shine. The man is guarding the plinth, and carries an axe and a club. He holds a
wolf on a chain which is snarling at the whiterobed woman walking toward the
plinth bearing an offering of incense in a thurifer. In the distance, the sun is
setting and a crescent moon hangs in the sky. The ground is like red, stony
desert and behind the woman is the faint outline of a green dragon.
VIII- Change
A masked woman dressed in green (flecked with blue) stands beside a large
Septenary Star Game. She is holding one of the pieces in her hand as if to place
it on a higher board. To the left is a verdant garden; to the right, a desolate plain
baked dry by the yellow sun – the Star game lies on the boundary. The woman
is smiling. One of the pieces of the game has fallen onto the plain and from it a
butterfly is emerging.
X- Wyrd
A large ash tree whose branches make a canopy. Three women in long green
dresses stand around a small pool of bubbling liquid. One of the women is
smiling and throwing small glowing spheres into the liquid.
Another holds a snake which is coiled around her hand, while the third looks
intently into the crystal tetrahedron she holds in her hands. Behind the tree a
hooded figure stands, shielding his face with his sleeve and hand
XI- Desire
A naked woman stands beside a lion. Her hand rests on its head; her other hand
holds a golden chalice from which drops of white liquid fall to the ground.
Where they touch the earth, flowers grow, while around is a redorange rocky
desert. The sky above is a deep blue, except for the distant horizon, which is
redyellow, as before sunrise. Near this horizon, a brilliant star is visible.
XIII- Death
A pile of human skulls, forming a pyramid, lie near the edge of a cliff. Below, is
a valley with a river and beyond, a forest burning, darkening the sky with
smoke. The sky near the cliff is bright blue. Near the skulls, a torn black flag
bearing an inverted pentagram flutters in the breeze.
Beside the banner, a tall beautiful woman with flowing blonde hair stands with
her arms folded looking toward the burning forest. She wears light Greek armor
and a bow is slung across her back, while a quiver of arrows is attached to her
belt. Beside her squats a dwarf dressed in bright clothes. He is grinning and
wiping his bloodstained knife on his sleeves.
XIV- Hel
A stern faced woman, pretty except that one of her eyes is shrivelled, stands
beside a dark lake enclosed by trees. She wears an almost transparent white robe
which emphasizes her beauty of body. She is throwing small multicolored
crystal spheres into the lake at whose far end is a man’s head, just visible above
the surface. An expression of horror is on the face. In the sky is a rainbow and a
hovering bird of prey.
XV- Lucifer
A handsome man is standing naked on a dais below which stand a young man
and a young woman embracing. They are both naked. The handsome man holds
a broken chain in on hand, and flames of fire in the other. Beside him is a
snarling wolf, and on the other side an older bearded man holding an animal
horn. An inverted pentagram is inscribed on the dais, while beside it lies a
broken human skull out of which a beautiful flower is growing. Above the
flower is a butterfly.
Following your workings with the dark pathways (this should take 21 weeks),
begin the workings with the spheres. For this you need a Tarot pack, which you
should have prepared either by purchasing a suitable Sinister deck or creating
one yourself, as well as somewhere to undertake the workings.
Ideally, the workings should be done in a room/area used only for magick, this
place being furnished according to your own taste with impedimenta suggestive
for the Occult for example, there might be an altar covered with a black cloth
on which is kept a crystal sphere (or tetrahedron), candles of various colours,
the Tarot pack itself and so on. What is important is that you choose the
furnishings and feel comfortable with them – they should be suggestive of the
hidden world of magick. A few items, wellchosen are much more effective in
creating the right atmosphere or aura than a whole collection of artifacts. Aim to
keep the area of your working incensed – using an incense appropriate to the
sphere you are dealing with (see Appendix I). Also, when working, use only
the light of candles.
A more effective and evocative option is to utilise an outdoor locale, where all
your rituals are performed. This area, preferably somewhere isolated such as a
remote hilltop or a forest clearing, will in time become a nexion, a place where
you can further draw acausal energies and which place will come to possess the
qualities of those areas mundanes refer to as ‘haunted’.
Workings involving the seven spheres are basically exercises in meditation. The
workings begin in order – that is, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn. Each working should last about an hour, and be begun after sunset. Only
one working should be done on any one day.
To begin a working, assume a comfortable position and then chant or vibrate
three times the word appropriate to the working (see table below). Then
concentrate on the sign below or ‘unconscious’ symbolism of that sphere as
represented by the appropriate Tarot card (for example, for the Moon: 18
Moon). Imagine yourself as part of the landscape depicted.
Thus, for instance, for the card 18 Moon you should imagine yourself in the
desert, walking along the path toward the crumbling towers. You walk between
the towers and see the scorpions on the halfburied book.
Then you might decide to pick up the book and see what it contains, or peer into
the towers where the hunched, dark, shapes are hiding or continue along the
path toward the mountains. You might do all these things – the choice is yours.
Following this, you concentrate on the next image, the Ego stage (for the sphere
of the Moon this is 15 Lucifer) – visualizing yourself as part of the image. Then
you move onto the next image, the Self stage (13 Death, for the Moon) and the
procedure is repeated.
Each working is a journey into the archetypal world of hidden and higher
consciousness, and you should undertake each journey in the spirit of adventure
and as something real. Dream yourself into the worlds depicted – stop and
converse with the beings you meet, discover where a path leads, what is over
the horizon and so on.
You must make a conscious effort to change the images in succession – that is
from the Unconscious to the Ego and the Self.
Spend as much time as you wish with each image, but always complete the
sequence and always make a conscious decision (when using the last image) to
end the working – saying ‘It is complete and I return to the world of my home.’
As soon as possible thereafter write an account of what you felt and
experienced.
A successful working should leave you with a feeling of loss – with the ordinary
world appearing rather devoid of interest, and rather dull. After writing your
account of the working, spend at least half an hour relaxing.
Then leave the working area, bathe and change into other clothes. It is often
helpful if you undertake the workings in a robe bought or made specifically for
the workings and rituals of the sevenfold Way.
(For further information on the spheres, see (Table of Sphere Correspondences)
IX
Second Degree Initiation
The first part of this stage involves you in finding a companion of the opposite
sex someone with whom you feel an empathy and with whom you feel you can
work. This person should have an interest in following the seven stages, and
should undertake stage one, as above.
The second part involves you both in conducting a ritual together. This takes
place on the night of the new moon, where the ‘roles’ of Priest and Priestess are
assumed. The ritual should be undertaken outdoors, in an isolated spot and if
possible on top of a hill. The only item required is a quartz crystal – the larger,
the better. A naturally occurring shape can be used, although a crystal shaped as
a tetrahedron is ideal. The ritual begins at sunset, both participants being naked.
The Priestess begins the ritual, holding the crystal in her hands and chanting
seven times Ad Lucifer qui lætificat juventutem meam!
The Priest then places his hands on the crystal and chants the same phrase three
times. The priestess then lies on the ground with her head north, the Priest
arousing her with his tongue before the sexual union begins. During this, both
should visualize a hole appearing in star studded space and energy emerging
from this ‘Star Gate’ and flowing down to them, suffusing them with its light
and power. The Priestess should visualize this energy as then being drawn into
the crystal. After her climax of ecstasy, she buries the crystal in the earth of the
hill, and both chant over the spot: Aperiatur terra, et germinet Lucifer!
They then dress, and depart from the place of the ritual.
It should be noted that in this ritual – as elsewhere – Lucifer is regarded as the
lightbringer: Prometheus, the bringer of Thought, the one who seeks to know.
The third and final part of this stage involves you in setting yourself a difficult
physical goal, and striving to achieve this. For instance, aiming to run 20 miles
in 2 ½ hours or less, cycling 100 miles in under 5 ½ hours. Such a goal should
involve you in training for some weeks or months.
This training should begin as soon as you have decided to undertake the second
stage of the Sevenfold Way, and once the goal is achieved you may attempt the
third stage, associated with the Grade Ritual of External Adept. This physical
goal is a necessary compliment to the magickal/psychological ones, and
essentially develops your desire or will to succeed. When choosing a goal, make
it realistic, but also difficult.
During this second stage, continue with the ‘magickal diary’ begun in stage one
(describing in that stage your workings with the spheres). This diary should
contain details of your thoughts/feelings regarding your relationships with your
companion, your training for the physical goal, and a record of rituals and
exercises undertaken.
X
External Adept
The first part of this stage involves you in constructing and learning to play (if
possible with your companion) the Septenary Star Game (see chapter VI). The
second part involves undertaking the Grade Ritual of External Adept. This ritual
should be undertaken on the night of the new moon – and you should go to
some trouble to find a suitable locality. This locality must be an isolated hill
top, miles from any human habitation, and should be devoid of trees, giving
thus an unobstructed view of the sky. If possible choose a night when the stars
are visible.
You should dress all in black and take nothing with you except the clothes you
wear – for example, no torch or other means of light. As dark approaches lie
with your head east, directly on the ground. Your task is to remain lying
unmoving without sleeping until dawn. During the darkness you should think
about the two stages undertaken previously – particularly about your
relationship with your companion. Once you have clarified your thoughts and
feelings on these and other matters, turn your attention to the stars –observing
them and their slow movement across the sky. At dawn, bow to the rising sun
(or in the direction of it), and leave the hill. As soon as possible write in your
magickal diary your thoughts and feelings during the night.
You must be honest with yourself about your feelings: as you must be honest
about the success of the ritual. Since your aim was to lie still without moving or
falling asleep, you must realize that if you did fall asleep or move, then the
ritual is not a success – and must be done again, until you succeed. It is
basically a test of your will and a ‘coagulation’ (see ‘The Alchemical Process’)
of your feelings, experiences and so on.
Those who desire a more difficult test should try the following version of the
ritual (which is not obligatory).
Arriving in Cairo (Egypt) take the desert road from the city past Medinet Sita
October (6th of October City) that goes to Bahariya Oasis and thence to Farafra.
Stop about 100 or so miles from Cairo and spend the night away from the road
in the Sahara desert. Return to Cairo the next day. Your isolation in this location
will be complete.
At the time of writing, there is a bus service (one bus a day in each direction)
between Cairo and the Oasis of Bahariya. Intrepid individuals might try cycling
along the road from Cairo. Whatever means of transportation are used, the ritual
is the same in detail as that given above.
Both versions should be undertaken without any assistance by others, and
involve only yourself.
The third part of this third stage involves you undertaking the workings with the
seven spheres again – but this time with your companion (or another one if
circumstances have changed). Follow the same procedure as for stage two
except both of you should concentrate on the same image at the same time and
agree beforehand to explore the scenes together. After each working, discuss the
experience with your companion, and write about it in you magickal diary.
XI
The Star Game
The Boards
There are seven boards, placed one above the other in a spiral and which form a
representation of the Septenary tree of Wyrd. Each board consists of nine white
and nine black squares (see fig.1). Each board is named after a star.
The Pieces
One set of pieces is white, the other black. Each set consists of 27 pieces, and
these are formed from 3 lots of 9. Thus, each player has the following pieces
The pieces represent combinations of the alchemical symbols (salt),
(mercury) and (sulphur).
An alternate form of symbolism may be employed thus; (salt), (mercury)
andsulphur). This symbolism is more ‘abstract’ than the alchemical, and has
the advantage of being easier to write on whatever material is chosen to make
the pieces for example, cubes of wood or small circular counters, painted with
the appropriate symbols.
Whichever of these two forms of symbols is used, it should be stressed that
symbols must be employed, the essence of the game is the symbolism; like a
chess piece, it frees the mind and enables connections to be seen, moves made,
pieces transformed and so on.
Antares has 6 pieces for white, and 6 pieces for black two sets of pieces
placed in the same patter as the pieces on Sirius i.e. on the same squares.
Mira has no pieces on it.
Rigel has the remaining 3 pieces of the set, placed as the set on Arcturus.
Deneb has 6 pieces of white, 6 pieces of black, all from the set, placed as the
set on Sirius.
Naos has the 3 remaining pieces of the set, placed on the same squares as the
set on Arcturus.
The moves
Each piece, when it is moved, is transformed into the next piece in the
sequence, according to the following pattern:
A on any square on any square on Naos may capture any piece of the
opposite colour on any square or any board, except Naos. The piece so captured
is removed from the board and plays no further part. After such a capture, the
becomes a piece.
The Aim
When played simply as a game i.e. between two opponents without any
esoteric object the aim is to occupy certain squares on Mira according to a
pattern determined by the players before the game begins.
However, pieces can only stay on Mira for three moves after this, they must
move; either across the Mira board (if the move is legal), or to another board.
The first move of the three is taken as the one which brings the piece to Mira.
The first player to place pieces according to the predetermined pattern, wins.
Variations
Two variations in the rule are suggested. These make the game much easier, and
may be used while the game itself is being learnt.
The first is to suspend the three move limit on Mira allowing the pieces on that
board until they are either moved by the player or are capture by the opposing
player. If this variation is used, then the players can elect to allow pieces
on Naos to remain for only three moves, after which they must move, and thus
revert to pieces.
In general, the seven boards represent the nexus between the causal and the
acausal; all evolution is regarded as a progression from the ‘lower’ realms of the
causal to the ‘higher’ realms of the acausal. Thus, the progression in magick,
from Initiate to Adept to Master/Mistress is marked by the progression from
Sirius (sphere of the Moon on the Tree of Wyrd) to Mira (sphere of the Sun) to
Rigel (sphere of Mars).
The symbolism of the game operates on several levels, the three most important
being the individual, the Aeonic (and the associated higher civilisation or
culture) and the Cosmic. Just as the seven spheres and thus the seven boards of
the Star Game represent the seven fundamental forms that the ‘energy of Chaos’
assumes according to our apprehension, so too do these 3 levels represent how
that energy (or ‘Being of the cosmos’) manifests itself naturally.
Of course, many more levels exist, but for simplicity only these three will be
considered here.
The individual level concerns how we all, as individuals, have within us by
virtue of being individuals possessed of consciousness, the ability to enhance
that consciousness. This enhancement may be expressed in many ways for
example, it is the Jungian ‘individuation’, the magickal path to Adepthship and
beyond but however it is expressed it is simply represented by the re
orientation of ‘psychic’ elements within us and the emergence of new elements.
The 3 basic symbols of the Star Game , and represen the basic
elements from which the psychic energies are formed, when manifest on the
individual level. Thus, the nine combinations of these three elements, as the
combinations of the Star Game, represent the combinations of the energies
possible.
However, for a complete description of the individual psyche, these nince
combinations are extended over the seven boards on a threefold basis because
the seven boards (representing the seven spheres of the septenary) symbolise the
possible orientations of consciousness; in simple terms, the seven spheres and
the correspondences associated with them (particularly the godforms of
archetypes) are present, either latently or expressed, within each individual.
To make this clear, Jung’s terminology will be used, although it should be
remembered that even this is only one expression of many the most
representative expression being the abstract symbols themselves, since these are
devoid of the conflict of ‘opposites’ and the dogmatic/religious undertones that
underlies many of the traditional expressions.
In this terminology, the seven spheres represent the seven fundamental
archetypes within our psyche, according to the table given below where the
archetypes are expressed in terms of both Greek and Norse mythology; for
example, Mercury is the tricksterHermes in Greek, Loki in Norse. As with all
such representations, these are only a guide, an outward expression of inner
essence.
In this context, the nine combinations are:
The acausal space is represented by s; the causal bys. s is described by t,
s by t.
symbolises an individual; a group of individuals of n
numberrepresents a higher civilisation. Є is to be read ‘within’ or member
of a group/space or subspace.
General Theory
All life implies the coincidence of sand s. Sentient life s Єs; this is
abstracted into seven stages or levels represented by the seven boards of the Star
Game. The two sets of nine pieces represent thet and t aspects of cosmic
Change (usually the black pieces being and the white pieces beingor how
Being becomes through Time
Each board, to be a correct representation should consist of three levels as in the
‘simple’ form of the Star Game. That is, each board would be a complete Star
Game thus:
However, in practice, this form of the Septenary game is not used in the initial
stages because of its complexity; it’s mastery is one of the tasks of the Internal
Adept. What follows is applicable to the ‘standard’ form of the Septenary game
with seven boards each of eighteen squares.
Magick implies changes in s via t; the ‘cause and effect’ understood by
science operates in s via t. The movement of pieces implies t and t and this
is the essence of the magickal use of the game.
In terms of the consciousness of an individual (since s Єs for represents
consciousness) the pieces are:
( ) Extravert Feeling
( ) Extravert Intuitive
( ) Extravert Thinking
( ) Introvert Feeling
( ) Introvert Intuitive
( ) Introvert Thinking
( ) Magus/Mousa
( ) Homo Galactica
For the seven boards represent the seven Aeons, and one Aeon is
represented by placing appropriate pieces on appropriate boards Sirius is the
first Aeon (the preHyperborean, sometimes called the Primal Aeon), Arcturus
is the Hyperborean and so on. The coming ‘New Aeon’ is thus Deneb.
To represent the present Aeon, the pieces should be changed from their original
positions thus:
Sirius ( ) Mira ( )
Rigel Naos ( )
Rigel ( )Mira ( )
Arcturus ( )Rigel ( )
Naos ( )Mira ( )
Naos ( )Mira ( )
All up to the present Western have exhausted their potential by the ( )
stage though stages are possible.
No has ever achievedbecause this requires Є s.
A lasts between 1,500 and 2,000 years, declining in intensity during this
time as indicated by the symbols:
XIII
Internal Adept
The first part of this stage requires you to become skilled in the Star Game –
regular playing of the game with an opponent (and, if possible, this should be
your ‘magickal’ companion) is the best way to attain this. You should also study
the esoteric theory behind the game – relating the symbols and their
transformations to the Septenary system and so on.
Once you are satisfied with your progress in the Star Game, you can undertake
the Grade Ritual of Internal Adept, which is the second part of this fourth stage.
This particular Grade Ritual is perhaps the most difficult task of the sevenfold
Way, and it is this ritual which produces the genuine Adept. The ritual creates
within you not only selfinsight, but also empathy – and it is this empathy with
life and the cosmos which is the foundation of true Adeptship.
The ritual involves you in living alone for a period of at least three months.
Beforehand, you must choose a suitable location – it should be as isolated as
possible (i.e. far from human habitation) with some kind of supply of fresh
water (e.g. a stream). Two methods of living in isolation for the required length
of time are possible, and you should choose the one which suits you. The first
involves living in a tent using monetary savings to purchase such food as is
necessary. The second is providing for all your needs from natural resources by
hunting, trapping, fishing and so on, and building your own shelter.
[Editor’s note: this route taken yields a greater degree of insight, and creates a
unique Rounwytha nature. See the MS ‘Preparation for Internal Adept’ for
further advice on this matter].
The first is the easiest – if you possess the necessary desire to undertake the
ritual because you wish for magickal Adeptship, then means will be found to
acquire the monetary savings necessary.
During your time alone you must have no contact with anyone (including family
and friends) except that necessary if food is to be bought – and this latter
contact should be as brief as possible. You must have with you no means of
communication with the outside world (radio, television, newspapers and so on)
and no means of reproducing music (record player, cassette etc.) except a
musical instrument should you wish to take one. You must use only candles for
lighting and possess no clock or watch or other means of measuring time. Strict
observance of these conditions are necessary, since without the solitude and
silence which these conditions impose upon you, the ritual will not succeed.
Once you have chosen your locality and made the necessary arrangements, the
ritual can begin. The best time for this is on the Spring Equinox, the ritual then
being completed on the Summer Solstice. You must take with you only what
you can carry on your own back.
Aim during your isolation to complete a task or tasks. For example, you might
choose to learn to play a musical instrument, or increase your skill in the Star
Game (it being possible to make the game smallish and portable) or write a
diary of your day to day experiences and feelings.
Think about this task carefully before you start the ritual, since there can be no
changing of tasks once the ritual has begun. The Grade Ritual is the alchemical
process of change which will occur in your thoughts and feelings by virtue of
you living alone for the length of time indicated and in the simple manner
prescribed. It is important that during the ritual you maintain your resolve to
continue until at least three months has passed – you will be tempted many
times to abandon the ritual, as you will be tempted to seek the distractions of
talking, friends, and the pleasures and comforts of the outside world: its music,
entertainment and other delights. Such temptations must be resisted – not
because they are wrong, but because, by undertaking the ritual in the first place,
you yourself have chosen to live without them in order to attain magickal and
selfunderstanding. There is no other way of achieving this. Wisdom is born
from the insight that primitive isolation brings.
Your greatest problem will be boredom– the days will seem very long. Learn to
observe the changes you see in Nature around you. Learn to think: about
yourself, your life, the world. Try and relate what you have learnt about the Star
Game and the Septenary system with the world and its changes, including
people. If at some time or times you become emotionally aggressive or
depressed, find a physical outlet for your feelings – running, or swimming (in a
lake if one is nearby). Try and understand your feelings.
All this will not be easy – it will be a struggle. But if you persist you will find
toward the end of the ritual changes occurring within you. You will gain insight,
and empathy, and emerge as an Adept. You may also be tempted, before the
three months is up, to leave your isolation because you believe you have
succeeded. But this may well be a delusion, and the threemonth time limit must
be strictly observed. This is so simply because three months is the absolute
minimum time required to produce the alchemical change: any change before
that is usually illusory or only temporary. It cannot be stressed too often that
there are no shortcuts to genuine Adeptship: no easy way to wisdom. There is
only living alone, isolated and in a simple way as above. The Grade Ritual
creates in three months what fate has produced (an then only rarely) in two or
three decades in a few fortunate individuals – it is a technique which distils the
experience of thousands of years of evolutionary understanding, and makes
Adeptship available to all.
XIV
Entering the Abyss
In the Septenary system, the Abyss lies between the spheres of Sun and Mars –
it is the region where the ‘acausal’ and the ‘causal’ meet. The Septenary system
the seven spheres and the paths linking them – is regarded as a map of our own
consciousness. Our consciousness, by its nature, is both causal and acausal that
is, both rational and ‘irrational’, where this ‘irrational’ includes the
unconscious. In one sense, the causal is linear, progressive, evolutionary, and
the acausal is unified, ‘wholistic’.
To the acausal belongs ‘magick’ – and the ‘Occult’ in general; to the causal
belongs science and logic. The Abyss may be seen as essentially beyond the
opposites of causal and acausal – the unity beyond both. To it belongs our past,
present, future – and the demons/gods within us and outside of us. It is the place
where our selfimage – created by our experiences of life – is broken, and where
we discover how we, and all others, fit into the scheme of the cosmos itself. The
Abyss, destroying our image of ourself, either destroys us – or takes us beyond
our self, to the real beginnings of wisdom. The Grade Ritual (which produces,
in magickal terms, the Master of the Temple/Mistress of Earth) is simple in
form, but difficult in practice. As with all the Grade Rituals, it demands self
honesty. The ritual can be attempted by those who have successfully completed
the ritual of Internal Adept and feel themselves ready for the next stage.
In aspect, the ritual involves the candidate walking (unaided by others or any
form of transportation) – and carrying all that is necessary in terms of food,
water and shelter a distance of 80 miles (males) or 56 miles (females). The
candidate – who should also carry a crystal tetrahedron of no less than 3” in
height – should during this walking stop for only an hour only once, that is,
during the night. The ritual is begun at sunrise on the first day and reaches its
climax at sunset the following day. The walking should be undertaken as far as
possible from human habitation, and the candidate must complete the specified
distance before sunset on the second day. At the end of the walk, the candidate
should – without eating or resting – bathe in a river/stream/lake (the walk being
planned to end near one of these). A comfortable position is then assumed, the
crystal tetrahedron held in the palms of the hands, and the candidate visualizing
a darkness within the crystal which spreads outward to enclose him/her. This
visualization is accompanied by the slow, repetitive chanting of the word
‘Chaos’. After several minutes of effort, the visualization is ended, and the mind
allowed to sense and feel what it may. No attempt should be made to control or
direct the images/sensations/feelings which may occur. They should be
observed, with emotional detachment.
The candidate will know when the ritual is complete, and should as soon as
possible write an account of it. It is important for the bathing to begin as soon as
the target distance is achieved – and the visualization must itself begin after the
bathing. If these conditions are not observed – or if some assistance is given
during the walk – then the ritual is void.
Part Two
Esoteric Sorcery
The following chapters give details of various techniques of external magick,
and these techniques are used to bring about a specific aim of desire. Those who
wish to use them in a practical sense are advised to first read Appendix II
(preparation or Hermetic Rituals) followed by Appendix III (Visualization
Techniques). Also, if you have not already undertaken the Initiation as given in
Part One above, this (or the ritual given in Appendix IV) should be done, since
this, put simply, is an ‘introduction to the role of sorcerer/sorceress’.
Successful external magick to a great extent depends on the acceptance of this
role: it is the opening of the gate within which leads to the acausal, that source
of magickal energy. External magick – both hermetic and ceremonial – is a
skill, the learning of which is one of the tasks of an Initiate following the
Sevenfold Way. This learning is associated quite naturally with the magickal
grade ‘External Adept’. The techniques given enable the fulfilment of desires,
without restriction. One of these techniques – the ‘Dark Pathways’ – involves
the drawing down/invokation of ‘dark/sinister/negative/chaotic’ type energies
and in this sense is a ‘Left Hand Path’ working: that is, it is concerned with
various areas of consciousness which are often misunderstood.
The workings with the pathways may be said to be journeys into the darker
sides of the unconscious (or ‘hidden consciousness’) of the psyche of the
individual, and while these energies may be used hermetically that is, directed
by desire toward a specific aim or intention – they can be used ‘internally’ to
provoke/cause changes in the individual consciousness, aiding thus magickal
development and selfunderstanding. In this ‘internal’ sense, when the energies
are produced (by means given in the ‘Dark Pathways’ chapter) they are not
directed, but left to produce images/sensations in the psyche (as per the
workings with the spheres in Part One). Both types of workings are associated
with the magickal learning of an Initiate – that is, they are undertaken before the
Grade Ritual of External Adept, this Grade Ritual being a means of conscious
integration of the experiences. (For the left Hand Path in general see Appendix
I).
I
Preparation for Hermetic Rituals
Hermetic rituals or workings are usually undertaken for a specific desire and it
is important, before you begin a ritual using a specific technique, to be clear
about the nature of this desire. That is, you should have an idea – either in your
imagination or in words – of the goal you wish to achieve by using magick.
It is important that this goal be specific – that is, limited to one thing. Once you
have defined what it is you wish by magick to achieve – and it can be anything,
from wealth, success, love, health, cursing an individual – then spend some time
thinking of possible visualizations that represent your goal as well as trying to
find some simple and evokative phrase which captures that goal.
The visualization chosen should not be too complex – for example, if you desire
to achieve success in an interview for a job, make the visualization either of
yourself receiving a letter confirming your success, or imagine yourself dressed
as you would be for the interview hearing someone saying ‘Congratulations!
We are prepared to offer you …’ If, on the darker side, you wish to harm an
individual by magick, then choose a visualization which involves that individual
undergoing some form of suffering – for example, imagine their face contorted
in agony from stomach pains. Once you have chosen a suitable visualization,
keep creating it in your mind for several days before the intended working but
without introducing any emotion into it.
To choose a phrase to represent your goal is fairly easy – for example, to obtain
someone’s love: ‘Let N.N. become possessed of love for me.’ As with the
visualization, repeat the chosen phrase several times in the days before the
working but again without emotion.
The techniques of hermetic magick aim to produce from within you a controlled
frenzy – a powerful surge of physical and emotional energy. This energy is then
directed into the visualization and in the shouting/screaming, vibration of the
chosen phrase.
Your aim during a working should be to almost lose control of yourself with an
emotion appropriate to the type of working (although this does not apply, for
example, to internal magick and most techniques of hermetic healing). Let
movement of your body draw some of this energy from you – and not be afraid
during working to laugh, cry, scream or shout.
A working should leave you feeling both physically and emotionally exhausted
– if it does not, then you have not put enough effort into it.
Prepare your working well in advance – gathering the equipment, finding a
suitable location, preparing the area you have chosen. Anticipate both the
pleasure of the working and the magickal power which you as a magickian will
bring forth and control. Try to be in an expectant and nervous frame of mind by
the day of the ritual as this will increase the power of the working. Do not,
however, worry of the success of it – you must believe that you are going to
succeed, that you will, through magick, control your own life. Feel the powerful
Destiny of the magickian – it is very helpful in the days before a working, if you
consciously attempt to act the role of sorcerer/Sorceress. Surround yourself with
items of magickal interest, burn incense in your place of dwelling, wear a piece
of jewellery which you feel is magickal, dress in a different way (for example,
all in black). Cut a short wand from a hazel tree and inscribe/carve it with
magickal symbols – choose for yourself a special magickal name and carve this
name upon the wood.
If you prepare in such a way you will begin the working ready to unleash the
primeval power within you.
II
Esoteric Chant
Esoteric chant may be divided (as far as the ‘Dark Tradition’ is concerned) into
two parts: vibration of names and ‘Sacred’ or magical chant. The first type
requires less skill and is the form most often used in ritual – for example, to
create or ‘draw down’ a particular force or entity in a magickal working. The
second type requires some musical ability or training since mode and tempo are
important.
1) Vibration:
Vibration implies that each part of the word to be used, (either alone or as part
of a text or key) is resonated deeply and this requires the person to be standing
and the ‘solar plexus’ to be used to generate the deep breathing required, the
mouth acting as a resonant cavity. The vibration should be such that it is felt in
the whole body – a vibration is not a shout or scream but rather a prolonged
concentration of sound energy.
For example, to vibrate the word ‘Satan’. Take a deep breath and sound ‘Sa’,
for the length of that breath (not less than twenty seconds) trying to maintain the
same level of intensity as the breath fades – then inhale quickly and vibrate
‘tan’ while exhaling the same manner as before.
Practice will enable the length of each part to be increased. To obtain the
required ‘depth’ or power, attempt to project the sound in front of you to a point
at least ten feet away.
The essence of vibration is control of the sound – it should be as even as
possible and the same on all parts of the word or phrase. With practice, the
relative pitch of vibration can be altered, although this is not as important as
producing a powerful vibration since most magickal vibrations require power
rather than finesse of pitch. Certain musical keys are associated with certain
types of magickal force (for instance, the key of E minor is associated with
‘Satanic’ indulgence) and experience will soon show which key is appropriate
to the force required. The ‘Enochian keys’ provide a good example of vibration
used in the magickal sense consider the Third key: Nicma Goho Piad zir…
‘Nicma’ is vibrated as ‘Mic‘ followed by ‘ma’, each part for at least twenty
seconds. ‘Goho’ is “go” and “ho” for the same length of time; ‘zir’ is one
sound and so on. Thus it will be seen that the vibration of one Enochian key
requires quite an effort, and correct vibration produces in the person (partly
because of this) an altered state of consciousness as well as producing magickal
results and effecting other individuals who may be present.
Each individual possesses what may be called a unique ‘vibration signature’ or
key at which the sound produced is most effective for them on both the personal
and magickal levels, and this signature may and should be discovered by
practice. Most women will naturally produce vibration at a higher relative pitch
than men and their vibrations can sometimes be quite dangerous, while some
men may produce vibrations that are disturbing to certain individuals.
Those who wish to master the art of magickal vibration should practice
regularly, particularly within large resonant buildings, gradually increasing their
ability of breath control and the power of the sound itself. Correctly used, short
vibrations can startle people and render them immobile for some seconds. In
certain circumstances, a powerful vibration can kill.
2) Magickal Chant
Magickal chant is essentially monophonic and for this reason is generally (when
it is written down at all) represented in Gregorian notation – as distinct from the
‘blob’ notation used in modern music.
Magickal chant is sung unaccompanied in one of the seven fundamental (or
Greek) modes – Lydian, Dorian and so on, the modes themselves being
representations of Septenary forces as described by the Septenary Tree of Wyrd
and the correspondences associated with it. There are three basic ways of
performing this chant – by a solo cantor; by several voices in unison and by two
cantors (or choirs) singing ‘vox principalis’ and ‘vox organalis’ a fourth or fifth
apart as in organum. The music of this type of chant is similar to Gregorian
chant sung in proportional rhythm and the texts used are usually magickal
invokations or calls.
Magickal chant of this type is used for three purposes – first, as keys to the
Abyss or to open various acausal Gates (as, for example, their use in the Nine
Angles rite to return the Dark Gods to Earth); second as a means of producing
magickal change in the world and individuals since certain chants are regarded
as possessing special power if sung correctly; third, to provide a framework
which some individuals may use to presence on a day to day basis through such
traditional forms as the Promethean Office, those aspects of the acausal which
have been named variously as Physis and Tao.
The first two of these have often been considered to belong to the Left Handed
Path, since they generally invoke/create various chthonic or dark/negative
forces in consciousness, while the third has hitherto been used almost
exclusively by those Adepts who, having passed the Abyss, live according to
their own wisdom.
An example of the first of these types is given below – as used in the rite to
return the Dark God Atazoth to Earth.
II
Esoteric Chant as Magickal Technique
The seven Greek modes correspond to the spheres of the Septenary as follows:
Lydian Jupiter
Phrygian Saturn
Dorian Moon
Mixolydian Venus
Hypodorian (or Aeolian) Mercury
Hypolydian Sun
Hypophrygian (or Ionian) Mars
The modes used in esoteric chant are the ‘Gregorian’ or plainchant ones and
these are related, according to tradition, to the spheres and thus the Greek
modes thus:
Moon- Mode IV
Mercury Mode VI
Venus Mode V
Sun Modes VII/VIII
Mars Mode III
Jupiter Mode I
Saturn Mode II
Hence, if a piece of chant is sung correctly in, for example, mode IV, then such
a chant will be a representation of the energies or forces associated with the
appropriate sphere – in this case Moon/Nox.
Such energies may be used in the manner of magick to: a) increase the
consciousness/insight of those singing; b) be directed by will and visualization
for a specific aim appropriate to the sphere; c) to be used to alter (via the
acausal) the world itself.
Thus, esoteric chant is a form of magickal ritual – and a hitherto secret one. (b)
and (c) above usually require two cantors singing a fourth apart in parallel (for
dark/destructive workings) or a fifth apart (for constructive workings). (a) is
usually undertaken by one individual and is internal magick.
Moon
Mercury
(repeat 5 times)
Venus
Sun
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
III – Ritual
The chant appropriate to the sphere should be regarded as the key to the
working.
For the destructive/dark workings, the time should be sunrise at new moon; for
constructive work, sunset at full moon. The best place for workings is outdoors
either on hilltops or in glades.
The rite is begun by those attending vibrating according to tradition and three
times:
a) Agios O Atazoth for ‘dark’ workings; b) Agios O Baphomet for other
workings.
The cantor then incenses with incense appropriate to the sphere at each of the
seven points thus:
The path described by these points must be walked by the cantor while
incensing, followed by the other participants, if any.
The key chant (see Part II) is then sung twice in succession. If more than one
person is undertaking the ritual then this should be sung in fourths (for dark
workings) while those singing visualize the intent of the rite being
accomplished according to the principles of hermetic magick.
Prior practice of singing the chant (without the visualization) is essential, since
the chant is only magickal useful if sung correctly. The visualization should be
as concise as possible and according to a pattern agreed by the participants
before the ritual. It is possible to use sigilization instead of visualization: the
sigil being prepared beforehand and ‘consecrated/charged’ according to
tradition, the sigil being burnt by one of the participants during the singing of
the key chant.
The following table gives the type of work appropriate to each sphere:
Moon- Terror and sinister knowledge
Mercury- Indulgence and transformation(s)
Venus- Ecstasy and Love
Sun- Vision and understanding
Mars- Destruction and sacrifice
Jupiter- Wisdom and wealth
Saturn- Chaos
IV – Method of Singing
The essence of esoteric performance is for the chant to be sung slowly, each of
the plainchant notation representing a modern quaver, more or less, depending
on the ‘mood’ of the appropriate sphere.
The pitch of a piece is relative – and depends on what is comfortable for the
cantors or group. The rhythm of a particular piece is easy to obtain with practice
if it is remembered that a piece is like a wave – rising and falling with measured
cadence, in a flowing manner. It is for this reason that Latin (and sometimes
Greek) is employed for the texts, since of all languages, they are most
appropriate to monophonic chant. The accent is generally placed on the upbeat,
though exceptions exist
III
Frenzy Magick
I – Dance
Confine the intent of your working to a few phrases and images. For example, if
the working is to induce a specific individual to love you, a suitable phrase for
chanting/vibration would be ‘Let N.N. become possessed by love for me.’ A
suitable image would be a photograph of the individual – or a visualization of
their face. At twilight on a suitable day begin the working either outdoors or
within an indoor area suitable for dancing. Walk a circle slowly and sunwise
(i.e. from East to West) repeating the phrase which enshrines the intent of your
working.
Continue with this slow circular walking for several minutes while visualizing
the chosen image (or concentrating on a photograph) gradually allowing
yourself to feel the emotion appropriate to the working (for example, a ritual of
destruction – hate; a ritual to bring love; a ritual to bring wealth – a feeling of
the enjoyment of luxury and wealth…). Then walk faster and faster imagining
the sky above you opening and energy flowing down and into you. This energy
reinforces your emotion and let it make you shout louder and louder your
chosen phrase. Let this vital energy possess you – and dance, run, leap as you
will, visualizing the image and shouting/chanting the phrase as the frenzy
directs. Continue thus until exhaustion, then sit or lie still for several minutes
visualizing your energy being drawn back up into the sky and out in the stars.
Breathe deeply and slowly for about a minute, stand and say ‘It is over’ and
leave the area of the ritual.
II – Other Methods
Willed concentration involves gradually building up the appropriate emotion
while standing still through the use of breathing exercises and the alternate
contraction and relaxation of muscles. Deep breaths are taken and the muscles
of the arms, legs and back contracted: imagine with the inward breath that
energy (of the appropriate type – love, hate and so on) is being drawn into the
body. The breath is then exhaled slowly and the muscles relaxed. This continues
for at least a quarter of an hour – then the chosen image is visualized for the
length of five inhalations and five exhalations after which one long slow
inhalation is undertaken with the powerful drawing inof emotion. This is
followed by a shouted exhalation of the chosen phrase – until exhaustion or all
the energy is drained away.
As before, relax, say ‘It is over’ and leave the area of the ritual. Physical
endurance as a technique involves choosing something which for you is
exceptionally demanding physically. The achievement of this preset goal is
then as the climax of the working and the intent of the ritual is then visualized
and the chosen phrase enshrining the desire either vibrated or shouted at this
moment.
An example of this method would be choosing a steep hill and setting yourself
the task of running as hard and as fast as possible to the top as the success of the
working if it helps in the mental preparation repeat something to yourself like
(assuming, for the purpose of illustration, that the intent of the ritual is to bring
success to a particular undertaking): ‘My success will come as I reach the top of
the hill!’ No physical preparation of any kind should be undertaken: this method
involves sheer will and determination. If you really want the working to
succeed, you will possess the necessary will to achieve the physical goal. The
aim is for an explosion of physical energy, and in many respects running is
ideally suited for this. Induced ecstasy as a technique involves using some
outward form to produce within you an emotion appropriate to the intent of the
working. This outward form depends on your interest and/or abilities.
One of the simplest forms is music – that is, using music to induce the
appropriate emotion. However, this is not easy as it appears because it is
necessary to produce a frenzy of emotion and sustain this for a period of time.
Should you intend to use music in this way, a suitable piece/composition, once
found, should if possible be kept solely for magickal use. Since the effects of
music tend to be individual, only you can find music appropriate to a particular
emotive working. The important thing is to allow the emotion to build gradually
to a frenzied climax and at the climax send forth/direct the energy using
visualization and vibration. Combining dance with music is very effective.
Improvising music on a particular instrument can also be used – and very
effectively.
Again, the frenzy should be induced slowly and its climax accompanied by
visualization and vibration/shout of the chosen phrase.
IV
Visualisation and Sigil Magick
Visualization as a technique is simple. In the area chosen for the ritual, adopt a
comfortable position (sitting, lying or a ‘meditation posture’ – the position is
not important, only that it be comfortable) and in this position visualize in detail
but without any emotion the sequence of events desired.
Visualization may be said to be willed ‘daydream’ and to be effective requires
a calm but concentrated attitude of mind. To assist in the visualization, various
external triggers may be used to create the right atmosphere or mood: incense of
the planet appropriate to the working should be burned (see appendix I) and
candles of the planetary colour used to provide the only light. Before beginning
the visualization, vibrate the word appropriate to the planet (see below) three
times in succession.
The visualization should be as natural and realistic as possible.
Examples:
(a) You wish to obtain the sexual favours of a particular person. You visualize
the person and then in as much detail as possible the act itself;
(b) You desire to cause alarm to a neighbour who has annoyed you. You
visualize the person in bed at night and yourself standing over them. You smile
and by your will form the energy of the acausal dimensions into a peevish imp
(imagine the energy like swirling mist which your will forms into the imp). You
set this imp at the foot of the bed to create mayhem and then yourself depart.
It is important for success in this technique for the visualization to become for
you as real as possible, like a dream is real while it is being dreamt. To obtain
this, it is necessary to be relaxed and calm – any emotion generated should
belong not to you directly, but to the images in the visualization and then in a
controlled way, never frenzied but rather cool and deliberate.
As with all hermetic techniques, complete the working in a formal way by
relaxing and saying ‘It is over.’
Sigil magick involves the Septenary form of the Star Game (see Chapter XII).
The technique described here is only one of the many that involve the Star
Game – although it is the easiest to use.
First, the Star Game itself must be constructed, and the pieces marked with the
appropriate alchemical sigils. The basis of the technique is to set yourself a goal
with regard to placing your pieces in a certain pattern on the Mira board. This
goal you consciously equate with the success of your desire.
Begin by specifying the aim of the working: for example, if you wish by magick
to win someone’s love say to yourself (and write on paper) something like –
‘My will is for N.N. to love me. As I move my pieces toward my goal so shall
my desire be fulfilled.’
Choose a pattern for the Mira board – the pattern itself is not important, only
that you choose it and equate it with the achievement of your desire.
For example, the pattern could be:
White pieces are chosen for constructive workings, black pieces for destructive
ones. The former should be conducted during twilight, the latter during dawn.
Then begin to move the pieces – in accord with the rules of the game – until the
pattern is achieved. When the goal is attained, rejoice saying ‘So is it done
according to my will.’
Two additions can be made to this technique. Both involve playing the game
against the opponent. In the first, the opponent is not aware of the pattern you
have set yourself – you write your intended pattern down and show it to your
opponent only when you achieve it in the game through movement of pieces. In
the second, the opponent is aware of your goal and tries to prevent, by his
moves, your attainment of it. In both of these, the game should be played to a
conclusion without a break. In above additions naturally increase the difficulty
of the technique – but they also greatly increase its magickal potency.
V
Sexual Magick
Hermetic sexual magick – that is, the technique of using the sexual act for
magickal purposes – is quite simple, depending only on the acquisition of a
suitable partner and the sexual orientation of the person wishing to use the
technique. Techniques for both heterosexual and gay individuals will be given.
The most suitable partners are those with whom the operator feels an empathy
and ideally partners for sexual magick should be interested in magick, be aware
of the nature of the working and desire its success. It is worth going to some
trouble to find a suitable partner and develop with them a genuine partnership.
Workings undertaken with someone who is unaware that the sexual act is being
for magickal purposes are possible and effective (although not as much as those
undertaken by a genuine partnership) and the techniques described below
should be adjusted accordingly.
The essence of sexual working is to use the sexual energy generated by both
individuals in a directed way and despite many attempts to mystify the
procedure by others this is quite easily done. For best results, workings should
be undertaken according to the planet governing the desire – for example, a
working involving wealth would be associated with Jupiter. Constructive
workings are undertaken when the particular planet is rising at the place where
the working is being undertaken. Destructive workings when the planet is
setting. This naturally limits the workings to certain periods – thus increasing
what may be termed the numinosity of the working.
It is helpful if the working is ritualized to a certain extent – for example, by
using incense and candles appropriate to the planet and if possible conducting
the working in an area where either a magickal aura exists naturally (such as a
sacred glade or an isolated hilltop) or where one has been created by either
previous workings or by the creation of a Temple area with certain specific
magickal artifacts such as an altar, altar covering and so on.
As with most of the hermetic techniques described in this book, an appropriate
visualization and/or phrase should be chosen which describes the desire of the
working.
I – Heterosexual Working
The male arouses the female by firstly caressing her spine and shoulders with
the tips of his fingers, then arouses her fire with his tongue (locis muliebribus)
before the union itself begins. At the height of the union, the female visualizes
the desire in the manner chosen. If a phrase has been chosen to describe the
desire the female may chant this rhythmically as the union proceeds to its
climax, or this may be silently voiced by her in the same way.
It is the female who is the gate through which the power flows and as such hers
is the prominent role. It is often helpful for her in the beginning stages to
visualize energy flowing down to her and through her from the sky and stars
above.
Should the male be undertaking the working without the female participating
fully and with knowledge in the ritual, then his is the visualization and the
(silent) chant. This form of the working is by its nature less powerful than the
foregoing.
The female may of course undertake the working without the knowledge of the
male and this in no way alters the power of the working, except insofar as she
might wish to increase its power by using sexual enchantment to ensnare a man
and use him in the working. The enchantment is then a powerful prelude to the
working itself. The working is concluded in the usual formalized way by
relaxation and a simple phrase such as ‘It is completed.’
II – Sapphic/Uranian Working
Because of the doubling of the female, Sapphic working (sometimes called
Sapphistry) is powerful magick. Both participants may combine in the
visualization and/or rhythmic breathing of the chosen phrase – the fire is
aroused mutually by caress and tongue (locis muliebribus) one ecstasy
following the other (mutual ecstasy – though are unless cultivated by technique
– is very powerful magickally). If desired, the procedure can be repeated for as
many times as the participants desire. The working is concluded in the usual
manner.
Uranian working may be undertaken as above with the obvious emendations or
one participant may elect to raise the fire of the other via his lips. The working
is concluded in the usual manner.
VI
Model Magick
Model magick consists of two techniques. The first involves making actual
models of the events or individuals which one wishes to influence by using
magickal forces. The second concerns depicting (that is, representing) the
events in either a pictorial way or using the medium of words to create a model
for the imagination. The making of actual models is selfexplanatory.
For instance, to curse an individual make a model of that individual (wax is
easiest to use). The model should be lifelike. This model is then named by you
with the name of the individual – saying something akin to ‘With my hands I
gave you birth and I name you N.N.’. This model is then pierced with pins (the
usual method) or wrapped in a black cloth and buried in earth while you say ‘I
who gave you life now lay you dead in Earth!’ During these tasks the
appropriate emotion should be cultivated – in this case hate.
If it is wished to procure love from an individual, you make two models: one of
the person and one of yourself. They are named as before, then bound together
with green silk cord while saying ‘From this binding shall come our love’. The
models are then wrapped in a green cloth and placed somewhere undisturbed
near the abode of the other individual. The emotion here should be love.
It is important that strong emotion be produced and to aid this, the technique
may be ritualized. For example, an altar is prepared, appropriate incense burnt,
candles used as the only source of light. As you light the candles say ‘here have
I come to bring my desire to life!’
Then vibrate according to the method of chapter II the word (see above) of the
appropriate planet before beginning to make the models. Repeat, often, the
intent of the working: for example, ‘N.N. will die!’ End the working in the
formal manner.
The second technique of model magick involves creating images in an artistic
way. If a person is the object of your magickal desire, then this technique
involves drawing or painting that person – but undertaken in a creative mood.
That is, through the drawing or painting (or sculpture) you are actually giving
life to the person – you are capturing through the chosen medium the spirit (or
‘soul’) of that person. As the creation proceeds, you alter the image according to
your intent.
For example – if you wish harm to that person, anguish/pain/suffering can be
depicted in the face and body. What is important here is the feeling that you put
into the work. If events involving certain individuals are the object of desired
magickal change, then literary means can be used. For this, you use your
imagination to describe in words generally through the medium of a ‘short
story’ or a novel, the individuals involved and how you wish those individuals
to be altered by events according to your desire.
As before the mood should be imbued with magickal creation – you should feel
that you are controlling and moulding the events and the individuals. It is
suggested that when you first use this technique, introduce only small changes
into events and the lives of the individuals – for example, should you wish to
procure the love of an indi1 Place wax candles in water that has been boiled. A
film of wax will form on the water – use this to make the model. The more life
like the image, the more powerful the magick.
Begin by describing as realistically as possible, that individual and their life as
you know it. Then introduce into the story, yourself – in a realistic situation.
Gradually make the individual fall in love with you.
This literary technique can also be used to change on a significant scale those
forces which affect individuals although they themselves are unaware of them.
These forces are generally called magickal Aeonic energies or currents. Using a
literary form such as a novel, a play, a short story, you create using imagination
new images and ideas in a magickal way, as H.P. Lovecraft has done. However,
it is not necessary for your creations to be ‘published’ in the accepted sense for
them to be effective magickally, for once an image or idea is born by magick
through the desire of an individual it will, if possessed of sufficient magickal
energy at its birth, spread via the acausal to the minds of other individuals and
generally becomes a form of living entity. Publication, as such, is basically
irrelevant – magick uses the acausal whereas publication is only a causal
representation of something that may have been (as for example with
Lovecraft’s stories) originally acausal. As well as literary forms, it is possible to
use other creative media for magickal purposes – for example, film.
Artistic creation, used magickally, is a ritual in itself and does not need any
ritual formalization such as chanting, visualization and so on, although it can be
ritualized in a formal way should you so desire to enhance the magickal mood.
Such ritualization might include the use of incense, candles and undertaking the
work itself in specially prepared ritual/Temple area.
VII
Empathic Magick
(Note: While this MS assumes some knowledge of the LHP and magick, it may
be useful to non Initiates/non-Adepts.)
Notes:
[1] Part of this representation is, of course, what we term the sinister or, more
correctly, those energies/changes which when presenced produce a reordering,
which reordering most often is called "sinister".
[2] This does not mean, of course, that such energies should be conceptualized
in the Old Aeon way as actual "livingbeings" such as "demons" or suchlike,
which livingbeings have their own "nature". But such a conceptualization does
indeed hint at a much deeper truth, which in one sense is embodied in the
mythos of the Dark Gods, as it can be used as a beginning to move toward a
better understanding based on the reality of how acausal energies manifest and
then exist("live") in the causal.
[3] To be precise, we should really write: "The distortion which has overtaken
the Western Aeon will persist..." For, as explained in various Order MSS, what
is manifest now and has certainly been obvious to even many nonAdepts in
the past five years is the Magian distortion of the West, which distortion is
evident in the "neocons" of Amerika with its new imperialism which itself
serves a very Zionist/Magian agenda. According to a quite old MSS: "The last
Aeon, the Western whose center is in Northern Europe, is drawing to a close as
its energies fade. The next Aeon, however, has as its centre not our Earth, but a
location in space and until this centre is reached, the new Aeon will not be
possible.
However, the Old Aeon has some 350 years still left to run, and during this
period, the energies of the New Aeon will become more and more obvious as
they seep around the Gate, brought in part by deliberate Ritual by small groups
of Adepts..."
[4] As has been written: "It is not correct to give names to some things..." For
such a naming is a move away from the essence of the "thing" that is named
often a mistaking of what the name denotes for the essence which is supposedly
denoted by such a naming. Magick is one means away from such a projection,
such a transference of limited causal "thinking" a means toward an
apprehension of things, as things are.
II
Visualisation Techniques
When you can with ease visualize the sigils without first drawing them, try to
construct each one ‘in the mind’ close your eyes and imagine drawing the sigils,
again in turn. With the three ‘twodimensional’ sigils you should draw and
visualize them in one continuous movement.
After you have completed this, try and add colours to your visualization of the
threedimensional sigil: for example, visualizing the crescent moon as yellow,
one side of the tetrahedron as red, another as blue and so on.
Continue with this until you are satisfied you can conjure colours and sigils in
your mind and hold them for several minutes. If it helps, try and construct a
sigil in your mind just before the moment you go to sleep.
III
Magickal Symbols and Scripts
Magickal scripts
The seven gates (also a sigil of Saturn)
Opfer
Petrichor
Arcturus
Naos
The Dreccian moons
Moon 18 15 13
Mercury 0 8 16
Venus 6 14 17
Sun 7 12 5
Mars 1 4 9
Jupiter 11 3 2
Saturn 10 19 20
The wheel shows in diagrammatic form the relation between the seasons, the
Zodiacal constellations, the four fundamental elements and so on. It is an
esoteric part of the Septenary system.
Two important aspects of this representation should be noted. First, the
constellations are not distributed in equal ‘segments’ and second, the timepath
(i.e. the progression from one constellation to another in the zodiacal sequence)
is helical rather than circular. Both of these represent what actually occurs.
Aries, Libra and Cancer and Capricorn are allotted more space in comparison
with the other zodiacal constellations because these are periods when certain
Occult forces on the Earth are stronger. They represent ‘tides’, and the change
to these ‘tides’ are marked by Equinox and Solstice. Thus, the propitious times
for magickal work are the ‘seasons’ whose beginning is marked by Equinox and
Solstice. Further, the wheel represents the timepath which occurs in ‘nature’ –
this change being, not circular, but rather helical: a clockwise, corkscrew type
motion.
The pattern is threedimensional, but is represented for convenience by the two
dimensional wheel. There is thus an evolution, rather than a constantly repeated
circular pattern: the helical path does not return to the starting point, but rather a
new cycle is begun where the path ends.
These two aspects, and the correspondences associated with them in the
diagram, form part of the genuine Western tradition. It is unfortunate that most
seekers follow the distorted tradition which the Golden Dawn revived and
promulgated. For instance, most ‘Occult’ books which deal with the Zodiacal
constellations derive most of their attributions/correspondences from the real
and imaginary qualities of the animals/symbols which serve to name the
constellations. It should be obvious to anyone of any intelligence that the
external shape the stars make to an observer is irrelevant, except for purposes of
general classification. What is important from an esoteric point of view is what
is occurring in the vibrations/forces in and around the Earth at the time of year
signified by the constellation. For too long seekers after Occult knowledge have
absorbed the correspondences – or what they believed where correspondence
teachings. They have, in short, never experienced the reality of the forces which
are supposedly represented by the correspondences: they are strong on study,
but weak (and often totally lacking) on practical magickal experience.
In the SevenFold Way Initiates are taught to experience the reality of these
forces rather than slavishly follow ‘teachings’ or ‘traditions’. This process is
begun by the Grade Ritual of External Adept, continued by the Grade Ritual of
Internal Adept and finally completed by the passing of the Abyss. There is thus
apprehension and understanding of these forces are those forces are in
themselves.
The correspondences of the Septenary system represent the results of this
apprehension and understanding, and is thus part of a genuine tradition. It is no
coincidence that magick undertaken using the Septenary system is more
powerful than that based on other systems (such as the Qabala).
VI
Notes On Some Terms Used
Abyss
One of the ‘secrets’ of the Abyss is contained in the following quote from an
‘Alchemical text’:
“The secret of the Magus/Mousa who lies beyond the Grade of Magister
Templi/Mistress of Earth is a simple unity of two common things. This unity is
greater than but built upon the double pelican being inward yet like the stage of
Sol, outward though in lesser degree. Here is the living water, AZOTH, which
falls upon Earth nurturing it, and from which the seed flowers brighter than the
sun. The flower, properly prepared, splits the Heavens – it is the great elixir
which comes from this which when taken into the body dissolves both Sol and
Luna bringing exaltation. Whosoever takes this elixir will live immortal among
the fiery stars…”
This secret is contained in several of the medieval alchemical texts: from the
double pelican comes Azoth. The ‘seed’ must be watered by this living water –
from this, given certain conditions of preparation (i.e. nurture) the seed flowers.
The seed, note, is watered in Earth. From this flower, the final elixir is prepared.
Acausal/causal
The causal is the ‘physical’ universe described by three spatial dimensions (at
right angles to each other) and linear time. The acausal is the universe (or
universes: generally the singular is used to avoid semantic complications,
although the Septenary tradition accepts the near certainty that many such
‘acausal’ universes exist to compliment ‘our’ causal universe) described by an
unspecified number of spatial dimensions and by nonlinear (or acausal) time.
These spatial dimensions are not necessarily at right angles to each other.
The causal universe (often referred to simply as the ‘causal’) is described by the
laws of Physics. Esoterically, life is regarded as a manifestation of the acausal
within the causal: this is basically ‘one way’ (i.e. from acausal to causal – this
may be seen as a ‘flow’ of energy). Higher life (that is, sentient life) involves a
twoway process: or, rather, the twoway process is latent within sentient life. In
practical terms, this means that entities of sentient life (individuals) can change
the amount/intensity of the acausal flow as well as transcend to the acausal
itself. Thus the ‘goal’ of sentient life is to increase this flow (via discovery –
discovering or revealing in the sense of Heidegger the hidden nexion) and then
become part of the acausal (i.e. ‘immortal’ when seen from the causal).
Initiation, and ‘the Mysteries’ (i.e. the sevenfold Way) is the means to achieve
this.
Our psyche is a region where the acausal and the causal may be said to
‘coincide’ and the “laws of the psyche” describe this region. Archetypes are
causal apprehensions of acausal energy as this flows from the acausal into our
causal. The ‘Tree of Wyrd’ is a basic description (or “map”) of this region – the
Abyss, the nexion itself. Below the Abyss, apprehension depends on both
symbols and words (where symbols here refers to both sigils/artistic
representation, etc. and motifs/myths/archetypal forms, etc.) Beyond the Abyss,
is causal apprehension: we can approach this via abstract symbols (such as the
Star Game).
An Aeon is a particular ordering of the causal on Earth which is manifest as a
civilization – i.e. an increasing of the acausal, usually at a specified place/area
for a specified period of (linear) time. This increase affects individuals: at first
only those in proximity with the center, and then later via diffusion others as
well. This ordering is regarded as a natural process which occurs because of the
nature of the acausal and causal. However, esoteric tradition maintains that this
ordering has to varying extents been ‘altered’ by individuals: in the beginnings
as a mostly unconscious process. (See other MSS particularly ‘The Dark Gods’
and those relating to Aeonics.)
‘Magick’ is simply the presencing of acausal energy in the causal – for
‘external’ magick, via the intent or desire of the individual toward another
causal aspect (which includes other individuals); for ‘internal’ magick, toward
the psyche.
Note: These are generalized descriptions of somewhat complicated processes –
but they describe the basics involved.
Alchemical Texts
Those which have become public over the centuries fall into three groups. To
the first belongs those who basic symbolism (of the alchemical stages, processes
and so on) is basically sevenfold; the second group contains those based upon
other symbolism (sometimes twelve, sometimes ten, fourteen); while the third
group contains no ‘numerical’ system for classification or a mixture of several.
(For earlier allusions to the Septenary see the works of Robert Fludd.)
It should be obvious that those deserving serious study belong to the first group.
Archetypes
This terminology derives from the works of Jung, although it is used,
esoterically, in a specific way. Esoterically, an archetype is regarded as an
apprehension, by an individual, of acausal energies. This apprehension may be
conscious, or it may be unconscious – that is, it is presented to the
consciousness of the individual by psychic processes such as dreams,
inspirational works of Art or the process of living (as when, for instance, an
individual ‘sees’ a real person in an archetypal way: believes them to be such an
archetypal figure).
The fundamental archetypes, perceived by the individual on an individual level,
are depicted in the Tarot: as the ‘Major Arcana’ and the Court cards of the
Suites. These are depictions of archetypal forms.
Essentially, each individual possess within themselves (in their ‘psyche’) all the
archetypal forms: either ‘male’ (or solar) and ‘female’ (or lunar).
Most of these are ‘hidden’ from consciousness and most remain dormant.
Magickal training awakens these forms, brings them into consciousness and
then strips them of their ‘forms’: leaving ‘pure’ archetypal (or ‘acausal’) energy.
This energy becomes the Adept.
As used by Adepts of the sevenfold way, ‘archetype’ is a development of Jung’s
terminology, and replaces the term “image” which had been in use before.
Note: this ‘energy’ – still causally presenced as the individual (in terms of
‘self’) – is earthed and conducted away in the passing of the Abyss: it is made
Null/Void, returning the individual to ‘primal Chaos’
Ego; Self
The ‘ego’ is that aspect of the psyche of an individual which relates to the ‘I’ –
that is, the perception is limited to the immediate concerns/needs of the
individual. An individual possessed by the ‘ego’ is an individual sway to mostly
unconscious desires/needs that is, in thrall to archetypes and their
manifestation.
Esoterically, an important aspect of this is when an individual is ‘possessed’ by
the symbolism of the unconscious and sees aspects of external life as ‘portents’
of this unconscious (which may be projected as ‘God’/gods/demons: i.e. as
deriving from these forms). This manifests itself, for instance, in the individual
immersed in dream symbolism (and the ‘interpretations’), in ‘messages from the
unconscious’ (and their ‘interpretation’) – be these from ‘God/gods/demons etc.
– and in those ‘causal’ systems (like the Tarot, I Ching etc. etc.) which they
believe can ‘explain’ their life. In contradistinction, the esoteric Novice treats
all forms of such symbolism with a certain disdain – a mere means: not an end
in itself.
In the development of an individual as an individual develops naturally (i.e.
without the aid of esoteric Arts) the ‘ego’ stage lasts from youth to middleage:
there is a need to establish an outward ‘role’ (in society/clan etc.), to find a
‘mate’ and propagate and to care for the physical/material needs/pleasures.
The ‘self’ is the ‘stage’ beyond this– when there is an apprehension (often only
intuitive outside of magick) of (a) the wyrd of the individual and (b) the
separate existence of other individuals as those individuals are in themselves.
Put simply, (b) involves a degree of ‘empathy’. In the natural state, the self may
evolve in ‘middle age’ or before – and often arises as a consequence of
formative experiences (e.g. experience of war; personal loss; tragedy). In the
natural state (because the unconscious has not been properly experienced and
integrated) there is almost always a conflict with the ‘ego’ desires/pressures so
that the insight, given by the self, is sometimes lost by the individual who
returns to an ‘ego’ existence. The ‘wisdom’ of ‘old age’ is the gradual
resolution of this conflict in favor of the self.
In the past, the striving of an individual psyche for selfhood was often
represented by myths and legends.
Another term for ‘selfhood’ (the living of the role of the self – where the
perception of ‘Time’ differs from that of the ‘ego’) is ‘individuation’ (q.v. The
works of Jung). Esoterically, selfhood/individuation is Adeptship – but
Adeptship implies much more than ‘individuation. It implies a conscious,
rational understanding of one’s self and that of others as well as skill/mastery of
esoteric Arts and techniques. It also implies a ‘cosmic’/Aeonic perspective to
the Wyrd and the self. Individuation may be seen as a natural stage, achieved by
the natural process of living (for some, at least) whereas Adeptship is a goal
attained by following an esoteric Way; that is, which results from Initiation into
the mysteries. As such, Adeptship contains individuation, but is greater than it.
Also, individuation is itself only a stage: there are stages beyond even this: it is
not the end of personal development (as some ‘Jungians’ maintain).
Beyond, lies the ordeal of the Abyss and the birth of the Master/Mistress –
beyond them lies Immortality. Expressed simply, the ‘ego’ has no perception
of acausal ‘time’ – but is unconsciously affected by acausal energies; the ‘self’
has some perception of acausal ‘time’ and is less affected by acausal energies.
The Adept has learnt to control the personal acausal energies of the psyche
(external/internal magick) – there still remains, however, ‘Aeonic’ energies
which affect even the self.
Control/mastery of these takes the individual beyond the Abyss.
Gate / Star-Gate
Term(s) used to signify a nexus between the acausal and the causal. There are
basically two types of ‘gate’ or nexion (note: ‘Gate’ is usually the word used in
exoteric literature; nexion in esoteric works, this latter being both more
appropriate and precise) – the first is that which exists, latent, within us as
individuals by virtue of our psyche; the second is a physical one, where the
acausal is joined to the causal and where ‘energy’ may flow from one universe
to another. In addition, there are certain ‘pseudonexions’: regions where the two
universes come close to contact but which are not actually nexions. These may
be ‘opened’ by natural cosmic change (for instance a change/imbalance in
energies) or via ‘ritual’ – i.e. by individuals seeking a point of ‘weakness’ and
then using various energies to ‘break through’. The physical nexions are usually
called ‘StarGates” (exoterically) or Starnexion (esoterically: although quite
often they are referred to just nexions, the context making their type obvious).
Some of these ‘StarGates” are said to be in the regions of Space (as seen from
Earth) near the stars Algol, Dabih and Naos *. The nearest StarGate according
to tradition is said to be near the planet Saturn. These nexions make physical
travel to the acausal possible, and many more are said to exist, but be
unrecorded.
The nexion within the psyche is ‘opened’ by Initiation and the following of the
sevenfold Way. ‘Astral travel’ into the acausal is said to be possible beyond the
Abyss: below that stage, there may be some intimations of that universe.
*That is, if one journeyed from earth into Space toward these stars one would
eventually reach a nexion.
Psyche
As used esoterically, this refers to the latent or ‘hidden’ aspects of an
individual’s consciousness. An important part of the psyche is the ‘unconscious’
– that area of the psyche of which the individual is unaware (in the sense of not
being able to explain/understand it in its essence) and where the archetypes
may be said to ‘reside’. By ‘latent’ is meant: capable of development. The
psyche thus contains the potential of the ‘Self’. Thus the psyche may be seen as
both ‘above’ and ‘below’ what a particular individual is at a certain moment of
time: there is usually something ‘unconscious’ as there is usually the potential
of future development (toward greater consciousness). This is simply another
way of saying that archetypal images, the ego, the self, and the ‘Immortal’ (this
latter as the last stage of the sevenfold way) are all part of the psyche.
Septenary
In one sense, the seven represents the four plus three: the quaternity, found in
‘nature’ plus the three alchemical substances:
The quaternity are the four ‘forms of matter’: Air, Earth, Fire and Water,
associated with the Tarot Suites (see the Septenary tables) and a Zodiacal
constellation (e.g. for Air, Capricorn). This latter is also a ‘season’ showing the
appropriate time for the alchemical operation associated with stage: thus the
process would begin with the beginning of Aries, the stage of Calcination,
continue until Scorpio (Separation ) then this stage of Separation would end on
the Winter Solstice which marks the beginning of Coagulation which itself lasts
until the Summer Solstice, and so on. (This form of the Septenary – as an
alchemical combination – makes possible a greater understanding of some of
the more important Alchemical manuscripts.)
Star Game
On the individual level, the Septenary Star Game represents in abstract symbols,
the archetypal forms of the spheres and the pathways – on both their causal and
acausal aspects. This enables apprehension of the appropriate energies as those
energies are: i.e. in their ‘chaotic’ essence (unbound by the illusion of
‘opposites’ – opposites implicit in all language and ‘words’/names). This
apprehension is one of the fundamental aims of the Internal Adept.
Note: The ‘advanced form’ of the Game with its null squares is a more complete
representation – i.e. an accurate one. However, understanding of this form is
usually only possible after mastery of the Septenary version (such mastery
being in itself quite difficult). In all probability, in the future Adepts will be able
to master the advanced form without first attempting the Septenary form.
In general, what the tarot is to an Initiate and Eternal Adept, the Star Game is to
the Internal Adept.
Tarot
The symbolism of the cards are representations of archetypal forms – thus the
seven basic archetypes (q.v. The seven spheres and their correspondences) are
represented in their threefold forms:
These form the ‘Major Arcana’ and describe, on one level, the pathways. These
are basically the ‘images/roles’ which both unconsciously and consciously
affect the individual psyche – from both within, and without.
Quite often, these images/roles are projected, unconsciously, onto other
individuals – that is, others are ‘classified’ according to those types. (This is
particularly true of the ‘opposite sex’ where sexual energies are involved: for
example, a man may see a woman who attracts him (his ‘anima’) in the ‘role’ of
High Priestess, or Mistress of earth or The Star.)
The cards are means to explore these aspects of each individual – enabling (via
the workings with the spheres and pathways – when done solo and with the
companion) a ‘with drawing of the projections’ and consequently an
understanding of the essence: i.e. an appreciation of the fundamental energies as
those energies are, without the distortion of the ‘ego’. Inthe symbolic sense, this
is the beginning of Adepthood (or the Jungian ‘individuation’).
The four ‘Suites’ are basically representations of the ‘selfimage’ (symbolically,
the stage beyond the ‘ego’: represented by the Major Arcana). In terms of
developing consciousness – i.e. the sevenfold way – the ‘Court cards’ of the
Suites represent the roles often assumed by the Adept (or in another sense, the
energy which ‘possess’ the individual who has reached that stage).
The forces/energies appropriate to individual wyrd would be another
description. In terms of the Septenary, the Major Arcana relate to the spheres of
the Moon and Mercury (the Unconscious, and the Unconscious becoming
conscious – as well as the Unconscious possessing the individual: these are the
spheres of the ‘ego’): the Court cards to the next four stages from Venus to
Jupiter (i.e. they represent the energies symbolized by those spheres). For the
individual undergoing magickal training, these energies are manifest after the
rite of External Adept: their experience, and conscious understanding, marks the
progress from Novice to full Adept (i.e. Internal Adept).
Put simply, this means that although the External Adept may (and indeed
should) have consciously understood the images/roles of the Major Arcana’ (i.e.
be on the way to ‘selfhood’) through withdrawal of projections (etc.) he/she is
still affected by the energies represented by the ‘roles/images’ of the Court
cards (again, this influence is still partly unconscious although many External
Adepts do not realize this). The integration of these aspects leads to Adeptship
proper. Esoterically, each card (‘image/role/archetype) will vary from individual
to individual although there will always be the same outward form. Thus, some
details may not be the same. What is important is that a static image (as for
example in a ‘published’ version of the Tarot cards drawn by one artists)
portrays the essence – the ‘numinous or ‘mystical’ essence – this being manifest
in certain symbolism (for which see the Order descriptions of the cards).
Such static representations can never be perfect – since the images possess life,
and life is in a state of flux. What such static representations can do (depending
on both the artistic skill of the artist and their ‘intuition’ and magickal
understanding) is approach or try and approach the ‘perfect’ depiction.
Depending on this, static versions (as in Tarot packs) may or may not ‘work’ as
instruments to open the inner pathways.
In essence: a static image should convey the necessary symbolism in an
inspiring way.
VII
Symbol and Being
Abstract:
Using Heidegger’s interpretation of Being and Seienden as starting point, the
being of man is shown to be derived from being change and a new interpretation
of man’s being is achieved – that of the acausal. This concept of the acausal,
and that of change, as explained in terms of both Heidegger’s philosophy and
that of the PreSocratics. Using the acausal, thought, language and man’s
individuality are explained. The paper continues with an analysis of the
foundations of mathematics, since mathematical thought, reinterpreted in the
light of the acausal, is shown to be of fundamental importance for an
understanding of man’s being.
The paper concludes with a brief examination of Art and modern physics.
i) Art
As Being unfolds through participation to discourse, existents, as appearance,
predominate and the sense of Being that is characteristic of the numinous is lost
or covered up. From being a questioning, man has himself become a subject of
thought. This abstraction takes the form of technics (q.v. techne, ), the
construction, through a wresting away from Being, of tools and things as
existents deriving from them, not immediately possessed of participation, that
is, capable of manual production from naturally occurring substances and
materials, and with technics potentiality, as an uncovering, is itself lost in place
of abstraction. There is organization beyond the authentic participation that
characterized the first unfolding of Being. In language, also, the process of
technics occurs, logos as appearance, and the captivation of beings (21)
synonymous with the organization of the ‘they’ (22) through the goal of
inauthenticity. The works of art which still possess the numinosum do so in
spite of this organization or denotation (23), as a drawing down of Being. Such
works are archetypal, participating in the symbols of Being by unfolding Being
through those symbols of transformation.
Through these works (but not only them) authentic existence becomes a
possibility since, as a looking forward to and a looking back, they realize
partially the unity of causal and acausal, participation and abstraction, that is
authenticity for man transformed through technics. This authenticity is not just a
returning (as Heidegger believes) but also a rising up because it is built on and
dwells in Being as an unfolding. Hence the necessity of understanding the
history of Being as a record of this unfolding and concealment through
mathematics.
Aesthetically, a work of art is ‘true’ if it symbolically preserves Being as an
unfolding and looks forward to authenticity: if it represents Being and
anticipates it. As a representation of Being, mathematics is the true work of art
which reveals Being and beings as Being, to man.
ii) Mathematics
Modern science, starting with Galileo, takes the process of abstraction further,
into things themselves. Heidegger (24) claims mathematics makes this modern
science possible, and, in a sense, this is a true, if limited, appreciation of
mathematics. The learning that is ‘mathesis’ is not merely a causal learning, an
analysis of things as they appear, but, equally, the things as they are, as intuition
understands or knows. Intuition, however, understands them as symbols of
Being, and this kind of knowing is already implied in the Greek concept of
mathematics. For Aristotle, the potential for motion in a body lay in that body
itself – it was already present, as a kind of knowing as well as describing the
motion in relation to others, as a transforming. With Galileo and Newton, this
intuition or knowledge of the unity, had receded, leaving abstraction
predominant. Yet this intuition never actually disappeared as the ‘a priori’ it
gave substance to scientific laws and provided the basis for much mathematical
development .
Modern physics particularly has tried to dispense with this mathematical
knowing and as a consequence has established a body of facts that reveals only
what is projected, not what is revealed by things o existents as they are. We say
‘spacetime is curved’, for example, without fully understanding that we project
curved spacetime, as abstracts, onto what we have abstracted as ‘space’ and
‘time’, these abstracts supposedly existing independently of man, as ‘facts’. Yet,
ultimately, these abstracts are established from symbols – and it is in the
symbols, as opposed to the projections, that knowledge resides. Should this
knowing replace the ‘knowledge’ of ‘facts’ or projections, a revolution of
thought will result, and what is noble in man will be returned.
© O.N.A 1980 ev.
References
1) Heidegger, M: “Being and Time” (Basil Blackwell, 1962), p.67
2) “Being and Time”, p. 457
3) Heidegger: “Der Spruch des Anaximander”
in “Early Greek Thinking” (Harper & Row, 1975)
4) Heidegger: “On the Essence of Truth” in “Basic Writings” (Routledge &
Kegan Paul, 1978)
pp. 127141. See also “Introduction to Metaphysics” (Yale University
Press, 1959) pp.1023
5) “Introduction to Metaphysics” p. 62ff
6) Jung, C.G.:”Psychological Types” Vol.6 of Collected Works: Routledge &
Kegan Paul, 1971) chap. XI
7) Heidegger: “On Time and Being” (Harper & Row, 1972) p.7
8) Compare its usage in Aristotle’s “Nichomachean Ethics”, 1098 b, 33
9) Heidegger: “Being and Time” p. 203ff 10) Frag.53
11) Anaximander as given by Simplicius, “Physics”, 24, 13
12) Jung, C.G.: “The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious” (Vol.9, Part
I, nd of Collected Works: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 2 ed., 1968 pp. 341
13) “Republic”, X, 596
14) Anaximander. See (11). is synonymous with change.
15) “What is a Thing,” (Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1967) p. 68f
16) “Introduction to metaphysics” p.128f
17) Heidegger: “On Time and Being” p.6
18) “The Archetypesand the Collective Unconscious”
chap. VI
19) Plato: “Republic” VII, 534
20) Frag. 76
21) Heidegger: “Introduction to Metaphysics” p. 141f
22) Heidegger: “Being and Time” p. 222f
23) Heidegger: “Introduction to Metaphysics” p. 149ff
24) “What is a Thing?”, passim
25) Popper, K: “The Logic of Scientific Discovery” (Hutchinson, 1972).
VIII
Time and Being
The advanced Star Game consists of the seven boards as in the septenary
version together with the same number and distribution of pieces but each of
the seven boards consists of 4 levels.
The first level of each board consists of the ordinary 18 black and white square
board. The second level has 8 squares with 4 on either side consisting of 3
squares in a row and 1 in front. The third level consists of 1 square, and the
fourth level of 4 squares. These levels are on both sides of the board as in the
illustration.
Thus each board (which represents a sphere of the Septenary) has 18 squares,
plus 26, making 44 in all. There are thus 308 squares in total in the advanced
Star Game. Further, there are some additional pieces, as described below.
This version of the game is a complete full representation of the Septenary
system: each board represents the connections of pathways between the levels
or spheres.
For instance, the black squares on levels 2 and 4 (8 plus 4 squares) are the
acausal paths or connections from that sphere to all other spheres. The other
side of the board (the 9 white squares on the first level plus 12 squares of levels
2 and 4) represent the causal connections from that sphere. In one sense the
causal connections are the ‘outgoing’ connections (or exits) and the acausal
‘incoming’ connections (or entrances) to the pathways (or tunnels).
The two squares on level 3 (one on each side of the board again representing
the acausal and causal aspects) are ‘null squares’. These null squares represent
the connection to the Abyss that is, they symbolise the random element always
present. In the actual playing of the advanced game these squares are important
any piece which is placed on them is automatically changed into another piece
selected at random. This random selection is done by a process determined
before the game starts by the player or players: the most favoured method being
to choose without looking from the spare pieces. This choice is done by the
player whose piece has moved to the square. The chosen piece can be either
black or white, and a piece on a null square once it has been changed at
random can move to other squares according to what type of piece it is. Thus, a
( ) piece could move up or down one level only, while a ( ) piece
could move to any vacant square on any level or board. To facilitate the random
choice, a complete spare set of pieces is kept for this specific purpose and these
pieces are used for this purpose only. Thus, as the game progresses, the choice
of pieces becomes more limited.
Pieces:
There are two extra sets of all nine pieces for each player making thus five sets
for white and five sets for black. Hence over the 308 squares there are 90
pieces. Three sets are placed for each player as in the Septenary game. The two
additional sets are placed as follows:
One set of black pieces on the black squares of Level 2 and 4 of the Sirius
board.
One set of black pieces on the black squares of Level 2 and 4 of the Arcturus
board.
One set of white pieces on the white squares of Level 2 and 4 of the Sirius
board.
One set of white pieces on the white squares of Level 2 and 4 of the Sirius
board.
The null squares on Arcturus and Sirius are left blank.
Moves:
The pieces follow the same rules of movement and transformation as in the
Septenary game.
However, when a piece is on any of the levels (that is, 2, 3 or 4) of any board, a
move up or down a level is regarded as the equivalent of a move up and down
the seven boards.
to any vacant square on Level 1. These moves are possible because a piece
has ‘2 degrees’ of freedom. If the piece was on, say, Level 2 of Arcturus, it
could move down to Level 4 of Sirius (but not any further). Similarly, a
piece of Level 4 could move if it was on, say, Arcturus, to any vacant square on
Level 1 of Antares, or any vacant square on Level 2 of Antares (either side that
is, either the ‘causal’ side or the ‘acausal’ side).
It is simply a question of looking at the levels either up or down for ‘degrees of
freedom’. Thus an piece, having unlimited degrees of freedom, could move
from any level on any board to any other level on any other board.
The ( ) piece if on any square on Naos may capture any piece of the
opposite colour on any square and any level of any board except on Naos.
X
The Forbidden Alchemy
An Introduction to Esoteric Black Magick
Genuine alchemy takes two basic forms: first, the exploration concerning the
transforming of matter; and, second, the psychological magickal. The secret of
the first form is the interaction between the alchemist and the substance
undergoing transformation by chemical or other means. That is, the alchemist in
a subtle ('Occult')way aids the transformations being the creation of an Elixir of
Immortality. For the alchemist following this form of alchemy, the changing of
'base metals' into gold was only a stage on the way to the ultimate goal.
The second form of alchemy is concerned with changing the alchemist and
this requires following certain specific and often complicated procedures. The
aim here is 'Adeptship': the emergence of a new individual from the ashes of the
old. The ultimate goal is still 'Immortality', but a directly achieved one, rather
than, as in the first form, the creation of an Elixir which is taken by the
alchemist over a period of time. The exact nature of this 'Immortality' was the
subject of much speculation.
Two aspects of this second type of alchemy the 'forbidden alchemy' have
come to light over the last hundred years or so. However, these two aspects
crucial as they both are to the genuine esoteric Art make up only a part of the
forbidden system.
The first of these to receive attention was the sexual element that is involved in
achieving the stated goal. The second is the 'psychological' where the processes,
methods and symbols are understood (by e.g., Carl Jung et al)as representing
the usually unconscious striving of the individual psyche for 'wholeness' or
'individuation'.
In reality, the forbidden alchemy was a burgeoning science (or a practical way
of living as some would prefer to say) which over a long period of time came to
recognize that to achieve the stated goal of Immortality and/or OccultMagickal
Adeptship, it was necessary not only to symbolize certain natural energies and
certain states of 'being', but also to employ at certain stages a practical sexual
element.
These ideas developed in the Middle Ages and handed down in some of the
now famous alchemical texts were themselves a continuation of earlier ones:
particularly those of some of the mystery schools of Ancient Greece. At the
time the texts were written, Western Europe was under the totalitarian yoke of
the Nazarene church, and part of the reason for the obscurity of the texts was
because the basic ideas were heretical the desire to obtain an Immortality
independent of 'God', and the sexual nature of some of the workings. The rest of
the obscurity was due to: (a) the complex nature of the ideas themselves, with a
confusion of 'theologies' and (b) a deliberate desire to make the texts esoteric,
where the secrets could be revealed to trusted Initiates or those already
sufficiently enlightened (that is, free from the mental tyranny of Nazarene
belief) to grasp them intuitively.
The view held in some circles in recent years of alchemy as a kind of 'Western
tantra' is both misleading and inaccurate, as is the belief that it was a purely
'psychological' as opposed to practical system. The former view ignores: (i)
the vital significance of the symbolism (some of which is purely abstract and
not 'symbolic') in making possible advances in thought and understanding; and
(ii) the stages beyond those involving sexual activity. The latter view ignores
(or rather misinterprets) the importance of not only the practical, magical
aspects, but also the fact that the forbidden alchemy was essentially a system of
selfexperiencing in the real world, involving the achievement of specific goals
and tasks. This, couple with the sexual aspects, made its Way very different
from the inner, contemplative ones which flourished in certain Nazarene
institutions.
The fundamental ideas of the forbidden alchemy continued to be developed
over the decades and centuries after the preliminary MSS were written, and the
tradition that developed was handed on by mostly reclusive Adepts. This
tradition may be said to have reached its climax in the 'sevenfold Way'. In the
sevenfold Way the fundamental ideas have been clarified and refined as well as
extended, and the Way itself is a practical system devoid of both dogma and
mysticism. It was, until quite recently, genuinely esoteric.
The fundamental ideas of this Way or 'inner Alchemy' can be briefly stated:
1) In the development of selfunderstanding, as well as in the understanding of
both natural and 'Occult' forces, an abstract symbolism is important: such a
symbolism allows not only apprehension of those areas (of consciousness, for
example) not normally amenable to thought (and thus conscious control and
development) but also develops new areas of consciousness.
The abstract symbolism is of two kinds; the first being the Septenary 'Tree of
Wyrd' with the correspondences associated with each sphere and the pathways
connecting those sphere; the second being the abstract symbols of The Star
Game.
The first kind is a development of 'traditional' alchemical symbolism, while the
second is a new development entirely, and one which contains the whole of the
first.
This first kind enables, on the practical level, the exploration and thus
integration/transcendence of the hidden/unconscious/Occult areas of both our
own consciousness and the cosmos. This is, in effect, a magickal or alchemical
apprenticeship and involves practical work with the symbols a magickal ritual,
for example, being the use of specific symbols representing certain Occult or
magickal energies.
The second kind takes the individual beyond this towards the next stage of our
conscious evolution with the development of higher levels of consciousness and
new insights.
2) The practical work involved is divided for convenience into seven stages.
Several of these stages involve the individual (the 'alchemist')in finding and
working with a companion of the opposite sex, some of the work being of a
sexual nature.
This itself is an exploration of consciousness: a confrontation with the
anima/animus and so on.
Each of these seven stages is represented by a Grade Ritual a series of task,
workings and rituals which develop selfinsight and understanding in general,
and which enhance the 'Occult' abilities of the individual. By following the
stages progressively, and undertaking the appropriate Grade Ritual, the
individual will attain insight and ultimately Wisdom: the 'Philosophers' Stone'.
3) The symbolism of the Tree of Wyrd is derived from representing the
forces/energies of the cosmos (and thus each individual consciousness)in terms
of the duality of causal and acausal the seven spheres of the tree representing
the development (or rather, the potentiality inherent in each individual's
consciousness) of not only each individual consciousness from unconscious
through 'ego' and 'self' to Adepthood and beyond, but also the evolution of the
cosmos itself, in terms of its own 'consciousness' or Being.
In the early stages, the causal is often regarded as the 'rational' aspect of the
individual psyche, the acausal as the 'unconscious' or magickal aspects. The aim
of the early stages of the Way is for the individual to experience (and develop)
both and then unite them, achieving a transcendence.
What it is important to realize about the sevenfold Way is that it is a complete
and practical system, devoid of dogma and mystification, which enables any
individual, should they possess the necessary desire, to achieve Adeptship and
beyond. It is a unique and esoteric Way which, while firmly rooted in the
genuine esotericism of the West, is appropriate to the twentyfirst century and
beyond: for example, the Star Game contains, in its symbolism and techniques,
all the esoteric wisdom of alchemy, magick and the 'Occult' in general as well as
being a bridge to the future. It is, in essence, a new form of language and while
this new language, for some, may be difficult at first to learn, it opens up new
and exciting areas, new possibilities and new dimensions. In short, it enhances
our Being, extending our consciousness.
Perceptive readers will understand at once why this 'forbidden' alchemy is
essentially Black Magick. Quite simply, it is because it allows the evolution of
the individual according to their own desires in a practical way. Its essence is
practical experience: of Occult/magickal energies (both causal and acausal that
is, 'light' and 'sinister') but equally importantly of life itself. It is not a
'theoretical' system devoid of personal danger it is lifeenhancing, offering the
rewards of the gods, both causal and acausal and what is beyond all such
opposites that which can be signified only by Chaos: the origin of Being and
NonBeing).
126 yf
Agios O Baphomet